MIDDLE EAST: An Israeli businessman serving 15 years on espionage charges was freed by Egypt yesterday in exchange for the release of six Egyptian students in jail in Israel. The swap is just one indication in recent days of a warming of ties between the two countries writes Peter Hirschberg in Jerusalem.
As part of the deal, several hundred Palestinian security prisoners in Israeli jails are also to be released.
Azzam Azzam, a member of the Druze sect , was arrested in Egypt in late 1996, where he had been working, and charged with spying for Israel. An Egyptian court sentenced him to 15 years. Azzam strenuously denied all charges against him, as did Israel.
Israel fulfilled its side of the swap when it released six Egyptian students who were to stand trial on charges of trying to abduct and kill Israeli soldiers and of planning to hijack a tank. The six were arrested in August after crossing the border from Egypt into Israel.
"I don't have the words to thank you for your determination," Azzam told Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon after arriving back in Israel. "I told my brothers that if I'm not released while Arik Sharon is Prime Minister, I will never be released. I am fortunate and proud to have been born in Israel."
Mr Sharon said he had "thanked" Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and that in their phone conversation the two leaders had spoken of "tightening" ties between their countries.
For most of the intifada uprising, which erupted four years ago, relations between Israel and Egypt - and between Mr Mubarak and Mr Sharon - have been frosty. But against the backdrop of the Israeli leader's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, ties have been improving.
Last week, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman visited Jerusalem, just a day after Mr Mubarak met with Syrian President Bashar Assad to discuss developments on the Palestinian front and efforts to renew Israel-Syria peace talks. Mr Sharon was told of the Egyptian President's decision to release Mr Azzam during this visit.
Another indication of the improvement in ties was a remark last week by Mr Mubarak that if there was "no progress" towards peace during Mr Sharon's term, then it would be "very difficult" to achieve progress at all.