05.10.2011                      07.Tischrei. 5772

Diplomatie:

U.S. Defense Secretary fails to secure Egypt release of accused Israeli spy

Egypt charges Ilan Grapel, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who says he was working for a Cairo legal aid project at the time of his arrest, of being a Mossad agent — a claim Israel denies.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he urged Egyptian leaders to release a U.S.-born man being held for allegedly being an Israeli spy, but the former U.S. spymaster did not win the man's release during a two-day stay in Egypt.
Egypt has accused Ilan Grapel, 27, of being a Mossad agent — a claim Israel denies. And his detention since June has escalated criticism of Egypt's military, which took over rule of the country after the ouster of Hosni Mubarak in February….