Man freed in exchange for students

EGYPT yesterday freed an Israeli Arab businessman convicted of spying in exchange for Israel’s release of six Egyptian students, a deal that signalled a warming of relations between the two countries.

As part of the deal, Israel may also release Palestinian prisoners in the future, prime minister Ariel Sharon said in a statement.

The businessman, Azzam Azzam, was convicted of espionage by an Egyptian court in 1997 and sentenced to 15 years in prison. At the time, he ran a textile factory in Egypt. The case against Mr Azzam was based, in part, on allegations that he had invisible ink in his possession. Israel has denied he was an agent.