Spy traded for students in prisoner swap

Egypt today released an Israeli man convicted of spying, as part of a prisoner swap that signalled a warming of relations between the two countries, Israeli officials said.

Azzam Azzam, an Israeli Arab, was sentenced in 1997 to 15 years in prison. Israel has denied Azzam was an agent.

As part of the swap, six Egyptian students were freed by Israel.

The students had sneaked into Israel in August and were arrested on suspicion they tried to kidnap Israeli soldiers and commandeer a tank.