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Inside the Middle East
June 15, 2011
Posted: 1153 GMT

Israel's foreign minister Tuesday denied that an American-Israeli law student being held as a spy in Egypt worked for Israeli intelligence.

Israel's foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman says he has no idea why Ilan Grapel, 27, should be detained.
Israel's foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman says he has no idea why Ilan Grapel, 27, should be detained.

Avigdor Lieberman has no idea why Ilan Grapel, 27, should be detained, he told Israel Radio.
Grapel was apprehended Sunday and ordered held for 15 days on suspicion of spying for Israel, said Adel Saeed, a spokesman for Egypt's general prosecutor.
Grapel was taken into custody in a five-star hotel in downtown Cairo, Saeed said Sunday. Grapel's mother said he had been staying at a $9-a-night youth hostel.
Israeli diplomats visited Grapel on Tuesday, according to Egypt's Israeli embassy, and found him to be in good health. Israel continues working for Grapel's release, the embassy said.
Grapel's mother denied Monday that her son was involved in espionage, saying: "Law students don't have time to be spies."Read more...

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Filed under: Egypt •Israel


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miriam   June 15th, 2011 12:41 pm ET

This guy is as much a spy as was the shark sent to kill tourists in Egypt last year.

Such accusations against tourists, businessmen, journalists and political opponents, not forgetting wildlife, is nothing new in Egypt and it is obvious that the current leaders in Egypt are just as desperate for power and absence of criticism as their predecessors. There's no better way to distract negative attention than to blame Israel, the Mossad or Jews for unrest, a tactic which has been practiced for centuries in one form or another.

Grapel is a naive, irresponsible youth looking for action and adventure and should serve as an example of what people shouldn't do, ignoring warnings and common sense.

The Egyptian leadership and media have a giant tree to climb down from now and will have trouble explaining to their people why such a fairy-tale was just that.

pete D   June 16th, 2011 12:31 pm ET

never ever trust a jew....dumb americans

fu9l   June 17th, 2011 2:47 am ET

this is a american not a israelie if he was spying for anyone it would be america besides anyone who is jewish and in egypt is a spy might be time to cut off our funding to egypt at least start holding it over there heads...

proud zionist   June 17th, 2011 8:13 pm ET

He must be the one responsible for sending the shark that killed a swimmer in the Red Sea. They also said that the Mossad sent the shark, remember?

Aliyu Garba   June 18th, 2011 11:05 am ET

I support that comment becouse its true.

xsaadx   June 20th, 2011 9:18 am ET

Totally agreed with "pete D". There wont be piece on this planet earth without jews !!!!

Traveller   June 23rd, 2011 6:33 pm ET

I guess you never heard of the early 1950's & early 1960's MOSSAD spie planted in Egypt & Syria huh?!
Wolfgang lotz was sent to Egypt; his cover was an ex German soldier running a successful racing stables.
Eli Cohen was sent to Syria. His cover was a musinessman from Beirut going by the name of Kamal Ameen tabat.

zargos   June 24th, 2011 1:40 am ET

Bear in Mind MOSSAD do anything they are told to do . & ??

proud zionist   June 24th, 2011 4:30 pm ET

to all of you antisemites on this blog: drop dead

Kanika   August 8th, 2011 12:27 pm ET

I second the comment mentioned by "miriam"; that seems to be judicious answer! One shouldn't jump to conclusions.


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