US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is in Cairo today (6 Tishrei) and hopes to leave with Ilan Grapel, the Israeli imprisoned in June for allegedly spying for Israel. Grapel also holds US citizenship. While media reports indicate this is the primary mission surrounding the secretary’s visit, Panetta declined comment in his remarks made in Tel Aviv last night.

The Jerusalem Post reports that “Egyptian ‘security expert’ Maj.-Gen. Sameh Seif Yazal said that Egypt would request the release of Sheikh Amr Abd al Rahman who is imprisoned in the US, and may request the release of other Egyptian prisoners in the US and in Israel, Egyptian newspaper A-Sharouk said.

Despite the report, Yazal denied that direct pressure was being linked to the release of Grapel, blaming American pressure for his detention during recent months, explaining that the pressure only resulted in Grapel being incarcerated all this time.

The senior officer also had harsh words for Congressman Gary Akerman, who spoke of increased US aid to Cairo in exchange for the release. He explained that while his country will accept additional assistance, Cairo will not tolerate comments such as those made by the congressman.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)