Israel and Egypt agree to prisoner exchange

Israel and Egypt have reached a deal to swap 25 Egyptian prisoners in Israeli custody for US-Israeli dual national Ilan Grapel, held by Egypt since June.

The US-brokered deal was reached days after a successful Egyptian-brokered swap between Israel and Hamas Islamists that freed captive soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

It was subject to Israeli security cabinet approval widely expected to be issued at a session scheduled for today.

Egyptian officials confirmed the agreement and a source in Cairo said the swap may take place this week.

Grapel, 27, was arrested in Egypt and accused of being a spy out to recruit agents and monitor events in the revolt that overthrew president Hosni Mubarak in February, an ally of both the United States and Israel.

Grapel’s mother said at the time of his arrest that her son, a law student in the US, was working for Saint Andrew’s Refugee Services, a non-governmental organisation, in Cairo.

Grapel emigrated to Israel in 2005 from New York and served in its military in a 2006 war with Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.

Israel said the Egyptian prisoners being freed for Grapel were not charged with security-related crimes, and included three minors.

The deal for Grapel may also ease strains in Israeli-Egyptian ties since the summer, when five Egyptian security personnel were killed during a cross- border shooting at the Israeli frontier in August.