Azam Azam case not over -Israelis talk of military options
Egypt, Politics, 9/29/1997

It was thought that the case No. 1571 for the year 1997--known as the case of Azam Azam--was over after the magistrate Muharam Darwish the Head of the High National Security Court in Egypt sentenced him with 15 years in jail. Zahra Greis and Mona Shwahda, who are fugitives together with the Egyptian spy Emad Ismail, each received 25 years in prison.

But it seems that this case is not over, as the war in the courtroom moved to Israel. The Israeli officials used strong words in criticizing the sentence and the Egyptian judiciary system together with the future of the Egyptian-Israeli relations. Some Israeli newspapers suggested the "use of the military option to liberate the hostages in Egypt."

Yahoda Parak visited Egypt as the new leader of the Labor Party and requested the release of Azam Azam. The Israeli President Ezra Weizman was no different as he described the sentence as "unjust" and that Egypt committed a blunder by sentencing Azam Azam. He warned against the deterioration of Israeli-Egyptian relations as a result of this sentence.

It seems that the war of words that Israel is waging against Egypt because of Azam Azam has started and it may not not stop.

Previous Stories:
  Tensions rise between Egypt and Israel due to conference   (9/26/1997)
  Netanyahu's criticism for Azam sentence   (9/12/1997)
  Netanyahu asked for pardon for convicted Egyptian spy   (9/2/1997)

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