A file photo for the Israeli spy

By Abdul Raheem Ali, IOL Staff

CAIRO, October 13 (IslamOnline.net) – Egypt roundly rejects to be involved in the prisoners swap deal between Israel and Hezbollah by releasing Israeli spy Azzam Azzam, who is currently serving a 15-year term in an Egyptian jail, well-placed Egyptian sources told IslamOnline.net Monday, October 13.

Israeli newspapers claimed Monday that Israeli Health Minister Danny Naveh offered to Egyptian officials to have Azzam complete his jail sentence for espionage in an Israeli prison in return for the release by Israel of over 40 Egyptian prisoners.

Israeli daily Yediot Ahronoth further purported that Azzam asked Naveh to tell Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to include him in the Hezbollah prisoners swap, which is still being negotiated between Israel and the Lebanese resistance movement.

"Egypt's stance is unwavering when it comes to the issue of spy Azzam," said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, adding that Azzam, who is of Jordanian origin, would not be released until he completed his jail term.

The Israeli daily further said that Sharon told Azzam in a letter delivered to him in jail: "We all support you in your daily struggle and believe it won't be too long before we see you here in Israel."

"Israel was doing all it can to bring about your speedy and just release from prison and return you to your family," the daily quoted the letter as saying.

Sharon said in August that Egypt could not be involved in the Middle East peace process if it did not release the Israeli spy.

The paper further said that the spy's family will petition the Israeli High Court of Justice to condition any possible prisoner exchange deal with Hezbollah on Azzam's release.

The London-based Arabic language Al-Quds newspaper claimed last month that Israel was to release about 400 Palestinian and Arab detainees as part of a long-awaited prisoner exchange deal with Hezbollah.

On August 25, Israel allowed repatriation of the bodies of two Hezbollah fighters  in a surprise move that appeared to signal a breakthrough in the thorny question of prisoners.