'Cairo sets date for trial of alleged Mossad spies'

Israeli agent reportedly flees Egypt prior to capture; Jordanian faced with providing access to Egyptian Internet, phone lines, 'Al Hayat' says.

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)
The President of the Cairo Court of Appeals has set the trial for the Jordanian citizen Bashar Ibrahim Abu Zeid and alleged Mossad agent Ophir Harari for October 2, Al Hayat reported Wednesday.
While the trial is set for the two men, Harari, an Israeli national, managed to escape Egypt without being captured.
RELATED:Legal experts: Ilan Grapel fortunate to be US citizenOpinion: The spy ‘scandal’ that wasn'tThe two men are being charged with espionage and the intention to harm Egyptian national interests.
According to the Al Hayat report, Harari had tasked the Abu Zeid, a technical engineer, to provide Israel with access to Egyptian Internet and telephone networks in order to monitor communications within the county.
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.
His family, friends and the Israeli government have all denied that he had any involvement with Israeli intelligence.