AZZAM, AZZAM

(1963- )

   An Israeli Druze businessman who ran a textile factory in Egypt, Azzam was jailed in 1996 and convicted of espionage by an Egyptian court in 1997. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Israel repeatedly denied Azzam was an agent. Az-zam's imprisonment was a key point of friction in bilateral relations between Israel and Egypt.

   As part of Azzam's December 2004 release, six Egyptian students were freed by Israel. The students had sneaked into Israel in August and were arrested when they tried to kidnap Israeli soldiers and commandeer a tank. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon publicly expressed his deep gratitude to Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and emphasized that the release of Azzam was a humanitarian gesture that would make an additional contribution toward the deepening of Israeli-Egyptian bilateral relations.