Ilan Grapel, the 27-year-old law student from Hollis Hills detained in Egypt since June and accused of spying for Israel, has been released in exchange for 25 Egyptians held in Israeli jails.
Grapel, who is a dual citizen of America and Israel and studies at Emory Law School, was volunteering at a Cairo-based refugee organization when he was arrested. His friends and family vehemently denied that Grapel, who speaks Arabic and served in the Israeli army, was doing anything illegal. After months of negotiation, Egyptian authorities agreed to turn Grapel over to Israel, in exchange for the release of 25 Egyptian prisoners, most of whom were busted for smuggling and infiltration. Grapel is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem before flying back to New York with his mother, who flew to Israel to pick her son up. (This Israeli site has the emotional video of the two reuniting.)
"It's over now," Grapel's father told the Daily News. "I feel so relieved. I'm still trying to catch my breath. I can't quite believe it. It hasn't really sunk in yet." When asked if his son would ever go to Egypt again, the elder Grapel responded, "My son is an adventurer...He is a grown man and he makes his own decisions. But I hope he stays close to home for at least a little while."
