The Egyptian government on Sunday freed a convicted Israeli spy in a demonstration of goodwill which leaders of both countries hope will lead to progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In return, Israel released six Egyptians who illegally crossed the border with the aim of capturing an Israeli tank in August. Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, said that he would consider releasing more Palestinian prisoners in return for Egypt’s release of Azzam Azzam.
It was widely speculated that Azzam — convicted of espionage in 1997 and jailed for 15 years — could be used as a bargaining chip to be cashed in for the release of Marwan Barghouti, the jailed Palestinian leader who is running for president in the January 9 elections.
Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, has been making a concerted effort to improve relations with Israel and to become more involved in finding a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Egypt’s head of intelligence, Omar Suleiman, has made regular visits to the Palestinian leadership, often to persuade them to take a line of action favoured by the international community such as appointing a prime minister.
Ahmed Abul Gheit, the Egyptian foreign minister, and Suleiman met Sharon in Israel last week. – Guardian Unlimited Â