Report: Grapel met with Muslim Brotherhood men
Egyptian Media outlets claim Israeli-American arrested in Cairo presented himself as foreign reporter, tried to cross border into eastern Libya. FM Lieberman: Grapel has no connection to intelligence apparatus, not in Israel, US, or Mars
Egypt-based daily al-Masry al-Youm reported Tuesday that Israeli-American citizen Ilan Grapel, arrested in Egypt on alleged espionage charges, met with six people linked to an espionage ring in Egypt, four of whom he met in the town of Suez.
According to Egyptian media, Grapel crossed the border into Egypt with a tourist visa after the Mossad sent him to gather information on the Muslim Brotherhood, the Coptic Christians, Egypt's High Military Council and the Coalition of Revolutionary Youth.
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Al-Masry al-Youm reported that Grapel met with members of the Muslim Brotherhood and other radical elements.
The report also claimed Grapel met with journalists and academics in cafes in Cairo, purchased an Egyptian flag, and demonstrated at Tahrir Square on the Friday following former President Hosni Mubarak's ouster.
According to the report, Grapel also attempted to travel to eastern Libya, to areas controlled by rebel forces.
'Mistake or strange behaviour'
Al-Ahram weekly reported that during his stay in Egypt, Grapel visited synagogues, including the Jewish community building in Alexandria, where he identified himself as a news agency reporter or a European tourist. The paper further noted Grapel concealed his Israeli citizenship during his visit.Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman denied the allegations, saying Grapel "is just a student, perhaps a little strange or a little careless. He has no connection to any intelligence apparatus, not in Israel, not in the US and not on Mars.
"This is a mistake or strange behavior by the Egyptians. They have received all the clarifications and I hope the whole story will end quickly," Lieberman added.
Grapel's mother, Irene, said her son, a law student in the United States, was working for Saint Andrew's Refugee Services, a non-governmental organization, in Cairo.
The US embassy in Cairo said a consular officer visited Grapel on Monday and found him in good health.
Grapel immigrated to Israel in 2005 from New York and served in the IDF in 2006's Second Lebanon War.
Reuters contributed to this report
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