'Israeli, Jordanian face espionage charges in Egypt'

Egyptian report says "Mossad agent" allegedly tasked Jordanian with recruiting Egyptians “to help damage national interests of Egypt."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Mubarak helicopter 311 R (photo credit: REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El-Ghany)
Mubarak helicopter 311 R
(photo credit: REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El-Ghany)
An Israeli and a Jordanian were set to go on trial in Egypt on suspicion that they were spying for the Mossad, according to a MENA news agency report cited by AFP on Sunday.
According to the report, the Israeli citizen had allegedly tasked the Jordanian with recruiting Egyptians working in the telecoms sector “to obtain technical data in order to damage the national interests of Egypt.”
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The last time an Israeli was accused of spying in Egypt was in June when Israeli- American citizen Ilan Grapel was arrested at his downtown Cairo hotel by state security officers.
He was taken before Judge Hesham Badawi of the Supreme State Security Prosecution who ordered him detained for 15 days on charges of “spying on Egypt with the aim of harming its economic and political interests,” according to the MENA news agency.
Grapel was in Cairo working for a nonprofit organization helping African refugees.
His family, friends and the Israeli government have all denied that he had any involvement with Israeli intelligence.