Israel ready to swap prisoners with Egypt
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Xinhua, October 27, 2011
Israel on Wednesday transferred 25 Egyptian prisoners closer to the Egyptian border ahead of a scheduled prisoner exchange on Thursday, when Egypt is expected to release an Israeli-American prisoner, Ilan Grapel.
The Israel Prison Service (IPS) relocated 22 adult prisoners to the Ela prison near Beersheva, while the three remaining minors were brought to another facility in the center of the country, IPS Spokesperson Sivan Weizman told Xinhua Wednesday.
"We're taking 22 now because three of them are minors who will remain at the Ofek prison until the exchange is made and will join the others at the border," Weizman pointed out.
Egyptian authorities plan to release Grapel at 9 a.m. (0700 GMT), while the prisoners will be taken to the border crossing sometime between late afternoon and evening.
"We still don't know when they are going to be taken to the border, but it will not be before 5 p.m. (1500 GMT)," Weizman said, referring to the adults. "They'll just wait at the Ela prison until we get permission to drive them to Taba crossing."
Egyptian authorities arrested 27-year-old Grapel on June 12 on charges of espionage, saying he was sent to the country "with the aim of harming its economic and political interests." However, the charges were later lessened to aiding in the overthrow of the Mubarak regime during mass riots that swept the country at the beginning of the year.
In a statement released Tuesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister's Office said that none of the Egyptian prisoners committed security-related offenses.
Weizman said the prisoners did not make any statements about the impending swap.
"The inmates are all in good health but they have not made any comments about their upcoming release," she said.
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