Grapel to be released Thursday

Ilan Grapel, the Israeli-American citizen accused of espionage and held in Egypt since June 12 is to be released on Thursday in exchange for 25 Egyptian prisoners held in Israeli jails. On Tuesday the security cabinet approved the deal. The prisoner swap is expected to take place at the Taba crossing between southern Israel and Egypt. On Monday night Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke with Grapel's parents in the U.S. and informed them of the deal. Grapel who lives in Queens with his family, served in the Israeli army and had gone to work in a legal aid organization in Cairo when he was nabbed. Almagor an organization that represents terror victims claimed half of the Egyptians to be released are security prisoners and provided weapons to terrorists while the other half were involved in drugs smuggling.