Breaking: Egypt convoy crosses into Israel for prisoner swap

AFP , Thursday 27 Oct 2011

Convoy bearing US-Israel spy suspect enters Israel via Taba crossing; Egyptian detainees transferred to Beer Sheva in advance of historical prisoner exchange

Egyptian prisoners
A convoy of Israeli Prison Authority vehicles leaves Ela prison in the southern city of Beersheba, as they transport Egyptian prisoners due to be released through the border crossing next to the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Taba, October 27, 2011. (Photo: Reuters)

An Egyptian convoy of vehicles including armoured cars entered Israel on Thursday through the Taba border crossing as both countries prepared to exchange a suspected US-Israeli spy for 25 Egyptians jailed in the Hebrew state, AFP reported.

US-Israeli dual national Ilan Grapel, detained by Egyptian authorities in June on espionage charges, was on board one of the vehicles, the news agency reported. 

The Egyptian prisoners, all convicted of smuggling drugs or weapons or entering Israel illegally, have already been transferred to a staging prison in Beer Sheva, Israel, Israeli prison services spokeswoman Sivan Weizman told AFP.

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