Israel and Egypt have agreed to swap 25 Egyptian prisoners for Israeli-American citizen Ilan Grapel, who is being held in Cairo on suspicion of spying, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced Monday night.
The agreement has still to be ratified by the Israeli inner cabinet, which will meet Tuesday, the statement said. It added that none of the Egyptians up for release was jailed for security-related offences, dpa reported.
The swap deal was also agreed to with the help of the United States, the statement said.
Monday's announcement comes less than a week after Israel freed 477 Palestinian prisoners, in return for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip for more than five years.
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