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Azzam Azzam, a free man in Israel after eight years in an Egyptian prison.
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Azzam Azzam (AP file photo)
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners December 5, 2004 |
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| Azzam Azzam was confined for 8 years in a 2m (7ft.) square cell (AP file photo) |
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Azzam Azzam, an Israeli Druse Arab jailed since 1996 for allegedly spying on Egyptian, crossed the Egyptian border into Israel Sunday morning. Six Egyptian nationals, held by Israel for conspiring to carry out terror attacks, were allowed by Israeli authorities to cross back into Egypt. In a phone call to his family, Azzam said he felt "born again."
As part of the deal, Israel may also release Palestinian prisoners in the future, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in a statement.
The businessman, Azzam Azzam, was convicted of espionage by an Egyptian court in 1997 and sentenced to 15 years in prison. At the time, he ran a textile factory in Egypt. The case against Azzam was based, in part, on allegations that he had invisible ink in his possession. Israel has denied Azzam was an agent.
Azzam's imprisonment has been a key point of friction between Israel and Egypt, whose ties remain cool despite their 1979 peace treaty.
After Azzam's release, Sharon called Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to thank him. The two leaders pledged to work closely together, according to a statement by Sharon's office. "The prime minister ... said he believes the two (leaders) can achieve great things for the coming generations" and that Mubarak agreed, the statement said.
As part of the swap, six Egyptian students were freed by Israel. The students had sneaked into Israel in August and were arrested on suspicion they tried to kidnap Israeli soldiers and commandeer a tank. Egyptian officials said the students could face charges at home of illegally crossing the border.
The swap took place at the Taba crossing between Israel and Egypt.
After Azzam crossed into Israel in a van, he was taken to the nearby Red Sea resort of Eilat. After several hours, he boarded a small military aircraft in Eilat, waving and smiling before takeoff. He said he felt fine.
Azzam was expected to undergo a medical check before returning to his family in the northern Israeli village of Mughar. Azzam, a member of the Druse religious sect, an offshoot of Islam, briefly spoke to Sharon and to his wife Amal by phone from Eilat.
Sharon told Azzam he had worked hard for his release and that "the entire country is united in happiness over your return home." Azzam's brother, Iftan, said the family only found out earlier Sunday that the prisoner was to be released.
The swap came several days after Egypt's foreign minister and intelligence chief met with Sharon in Jerusalem. Earlier this week, Mubarak praised Sharon, saying Palestinians should be able to strike a peace deal with the Israeli leader.
The comments marked a significant warming of ties after an extended frosty period during more than four years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting.
Shortly after the outbreak of the conflict in 2000, Egypt withdrew its ambassador from Israel to protest what it considered Israel's excessive use of force against Palestinians.
However, Egypt expects to play a major role in Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005. Last week, Egypt and Israel reached agreement on deploying 750 Egyptian troops on the Egyptian side of the border with Gaza and on Palestinian security officials being sent to Egypt for training.
Since Arafat's death last month, Israeli-Palestinian ties have improved as well. Sharon said in a statement Sunday that he was considering releasing an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners as part of the swap with Egypt. More than 7,000 Palestinians are being held by Israel.
Azzam was arrested by Egypt in November 1996. At the time, he was the director of a textile factory in Egypt under joint Israeli-Egyptian ownership. The case against him included women's underwear allegedly soaked in invisible ink.
Israel has repeatedly denied Azzam was an Israeli agent.
Official Israeli version of the release process
During his visit to Israel last week, Egyptian Intelligence Minister Omar Soliman informed Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak had responded to the Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's request and, as a personal gesture to the Prime Minister, had instructed the relevant Egyptian authorities to work to shorten the sentence of Azzam Azzam.
As a gesture of appreciation and gratitude to Egyptian President Mubarak, Prime Minister Sharon ordered the relevant Israeli authorities to release from detention six Egyptian infiltrators.
As a further gesture to Egyptian President Mubarak, Prime Minister Sharon ordered the relevant security authorities to consider the possibility of shortening the prison terms of Palestinian prisoners in accordance with previously determined criteria.
Prime Minister Sharon reiterated his deep gratitude to Egyptian President Mubarak and to Gen. Soliman and emphasized that this humanitarian gesture would make an additional contribution towards the deepening of bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Sharon thanked Health Minister Danny Naveh for being in contact with Azzam Azzam and his family over a long period of time. The Prime Minister also thanked Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz for their work towards Azzam Azzam's release.
Today, Prime Minister Sharon shares in the great joy of the Azzam family, whom he has come to know, appreciate and respect during the eight years in which Azzam Azzam has been imprisoned, but especially in the last four years.
Conversation of Sharon and Azzam
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today spoke Sunday afternoon with Azzam Azzam and told him: "Welcome home! This is a happy moment in the history of the State of Israel, a moment that we have waited for a long time. Today, the entire country is united in its joy over your coming home. I am happy that you are returning to your loving family, to your brothers, to your wife and to your children, who have met with me many times and who spared neither time nor effort in working towards your release.
Immediately after I was elected, I met with your family and I promised them that during my tenure as Prime Minister, we would release you. Since then, I have worked tirelessly in all my meetings with Egyptians and others, in order to do so, and as I promised your family, I delivered. I expect to see you soon and I say again, welcome home."
Azzam Azzam told Prime Minister Sharon: "Mr. Prime Minister, thank you very much, I love you very much and I don't know how to express this. This is only thanks to you. I don't have the words to thank you for your determination. I told my brothers that if I'm not released while Arik Sharon is Prime Minister, I would never be released. I am fortunate and proud to have been born in Israel."
Israel Television Channel Two News reported this evening that, after flying from Eilat, Azzam Azzam was delayed at the Tel Aviv Carlton Hotel for many hours this afternoon so that Prime Minister Sharon could have a photo opportunity with him.
"With the meeting with Prime Minister Sharon finished, the last barrier between Azzam Azzam and his home in the Gallillee is out of the way," the anchor reported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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