Ilan Grapel
Egypt: 'Spy' allegations meant to discredit reformists?
Acquaintances of Israeli accused of espionage say allegations are 'throwback to old regime's methods'
Egypt's arrest of a US-born Israeli on suspicion of spying for the Mossad is providing fodder for the Arab nation's military rulers to accuse outsiders of stirring post-revolutionary turmoil.
The accusations against an American law student harken back to an era, not that long ago, when Egyptian leaders justified repression by claiming the country was under constant siege by foreign conspirators.
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The arrest of 27-year-old Ilan Grapel comes at a time when the military faces growing criticism of how it is running the country. It resonates among many Egyptians looking for someone outside to blame for the instability, crime and economic troubles that date to the February ouster of longtime authoritarian ruler Hosni Mubarak.
Concern
Ronen Medzini
Embassy representatives visits Ilan Grapel, says he is 'doing well'. Diplomats vow to work towards his release as Egyptian daily claims he met with radicals
Some in Egypt think the allegations that Grapel was an undercover operative are flimsy at best. Israel denied them on Tuesday. And a Facebook group called "The Stupid Israeli Spy" mocks the media reports about his activities.
The newspapers, publishing leaks from Egypt's intelligence agency, allege Grapel was a Mossad spy sent to Egypt to report on post-Mubarak conditions, incite protesters against the country's military rulers and stir up trouble between Muslims and Christians.
A Cairo friend of Grapel said the suspected spy acted naively while in Egypt, where he interned with a non-governmental agency helping refugees.
"He would openly consult his Hebrew-Arabic dictionary in cafes, taught Hebrew to an Egyptian and read Hebrew newspapers on his laptop for everybody to see," said the friend, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he feared attracting the attention of authorities.
Fiona Cameron, the acting director of St. Andrew's Refugee Services, told the AP that Grapel joined the agency on June 5 after a week's training and described him as "a pleasant young man."
Whether or not Grapel is a spy, his case is symptomatic of new and subtle tensions between Egypt and Israel as the Arab nation's post-Mubarak rulers move away from the policies the former leader adopted.
While vowing to honor the country's international commitments, Egypt's new rulers have improved ties with Iran, reopened borders with Gaza and reached out to Hamas.
"I cannot believe that Egypt would fabricate a story like this," said Khaled Salah, editor of the daily al-Youm al-Sabea ("Seventh Day") "Egypt can't play games like this right now. There are many reasons to believe Egypt might be targeted."
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman denied Tuesday that Grapel was a spy, and a senior Egyptian official told The Associated Press that Grapel also denied the charges during his interrogation.
Speaking on Israel's Army Radio, Lieberman said Grapel "has no connection to any intelligence agency, not in Israel, not in the US and not on Mars."
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