Ilan Grapel
Report: Israel pushing for Grapel's release
London's Arabic paper al-Hayat reports says high-ranking Israel official in Cairo on detained Israeli's behalf
The London-based Arabic-language newspaper al-Hayat reported Thursday that Israel has "stepped up" its effort to release Cairo-detained Ilan Grapel.
Grapel was arrested last week by Egyptian authorities, on suspicions of espionage.
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According to the London publication, Jerusalem sent Yitzhak Molcho, senior advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to Cairo, where he met with Egyptian Intelligence Minister Murad Muwafi, on Grapel's behalf.
The paper quoted "top sources" as saying the two's meeting focused solely on finding a way to release the 27-year-old.
"The issue of this Israeli spy is very sensitive, because it has to do with Egypt's national security," the paper said.
The report stressed that Molcho's meeting with Muwafi and did not address any other "burning Israel-Egypt issues" such as the natural gas deal or the Egypt's mediation in the Shalit deal.
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