The leading Egyptian daily Al-Ahram reported on June 7 that a prisoner exchange deal has been worked out between Israel and Egypt, whereby Egypt will release imprisoned Israeli Azzam Azzam in exchange for the release of the terrorist Samir Kuntar by Israel. The exchange is to take place next month, according to the Egyptian newspaper.
Azzam Azzam was convicted by an Egyptian military court in 1996 of spying for Israel and America and was sentenced to 15 years at hard labor.
Samir Kuntar, a Lebanese national, was one of a cell of PFLP terrorists who, in 1979, murdered two members of the Haran family, as well as policeman Eliyahu Shahar, in an attack in Nahariya.
In February of this year, the Kuwaiti Al-Qabas newspaper reported that Israel, Egypt and America had been involved in prisoner exchange talks including the release of Egyptian terrorists being held in Israel and at the US prison in Cuba in exchange for the release of Azzam. At the time, America stated there were 41 Egyptian nationals being held in Cuba, while Egypt said the number was closer to 70.
Azzam Azzam was convicted by an Egyptian military court in 1996 of spying for Israel and America and was sentenced to 15 years at hard labor.
Samir Kuntar, a Lebanese national, was one of a cell of PFLP terrorists who, in 1979, murdered two members of the Haran family, as well as policeman Eliyahu Shahar, in an attack in Nahariya.
In February of this year, the Kuwaiti Al-Qabas newspaper reported that Israel, Egypt and America had been involved in prisoner exchange talks including the release of Egyptian terrorists being held in Israel and at the US prison in Cuba in exchange for the release of Azzam. At the time, America stated there were 41 Egyptian nationals being held in Cuba, while Egypt said the number was closer to 70.