'Grapel investigation resumes in Egypt after 4 days'

Egyptian paper reports Grapel appointed new defense attorney; sources deny claims of possible Israel-Egypt prisoner exchange deal.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Ilan Grapel_311 (photo credit: Channel 10 News)
Ilan Grapel_311
(photo credit: Channel 10 News)
The investigation of alleged Mossad spy Ilan Grapel was renewed in Egypt on Monday after the dual Israeli-US citizen was appointed a new defense attorney following the resignation of his previous lawyer, the website for Egyptian daily Al-Ahram reported on Tuesday.
According to the report, the investigation into espionage allegations against Grapel had been suspended for four days while the issue of his legal presentation was organized.
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Grapel was allowed by Egyptian authorities to contact his parents in the United States for the second time, according to the report. Al-Ahram reported that Grapel held a 51-minute telephone conversation with his parents in which he told them that he had not been harmed and was being treated humanely by Egyptian authorities.
Al-Ahram quoted Egyptian sources as denying the truth of a Sunday report in Egyptian daily Al-Akhbar which stated that Israel and Egypt were discussing a prisoner exchange deal involving Grapel.
The report said that Israel was pursuing a prisoner exchange for the alleged spy, and had offered to release three Egyptians recently arrested in Israel in exchange for the 27-year-old American-Israeli dual citizen.
Grapel was arrested by Egyptian state security officers at his downtown Cairo hotel just over a week ago for allegedly spying for Israeli intelligence.
His family, friends, and the Israeli government have all denied that he was working as an espionage agent in Egypt.