Israel Matzav

Ben Ari: Israel shouldn't pay to release Grapel

MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union) has sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu demanding that Israel not pay any price for the release of American-Israeli anarchist Ilan Grapel, who is being held by Egypt as a 'spy.'

Ben Ari noted that according to reports in the press, Grapel is to be freed in exchange for over 80 criminal prisoners, including drug smugglers and others whose names and circumstances of arrest have not been published.

"Grapel associates himself to an anarchist group… with an agenda of breaking up governmental systems wherever they exist," he wrote "He does not see himself as a Jew or belonging to the Jewish people, but as a citizen of the world."

"As part of his anarchist activity, he took part in violent protests against IDF soldiers at Naalin and Bilin, and at Shimon HaTzaddik neighborhood in Jerusalem," added Ben Ari. "His activity in Egypt against the regime during the revolution was without doubt provocative... Egypt's claim that Grapel was trying to inflame internal conflicts is not without merit."

Indeed. Why are we paying for this nutjob's release?

Labels: anarchists, Egypt, Ilan Grapel, Mossad, spying

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:47 PM