Free Republic

Dec. 22, 2004 1:29 | Updated Dec. 22, 2004 16:30 The Druse & Jewish soul searching By AMNON RUBINSTEIN Azzam Azzam, an Israeli-Arab jailed in Egypt since 1996 after being convicted for spying for Israel, surrounded by family members, arrives to his village of Mughar in northern Israel, Sunday Dec. 5, 2004. Photo: AP Barely did we have time to catch our breath after the release of Azzam Azzam from Egypt than we were jolted out of our euphoria by news of the deaths of five Beduin soldiers killed in the bombing of the Rafah outpost. Both cases involve non-Jewish...

Azzam Azzam, the Israeli Druze citizen who was freed at the beginning of the week from an Egyptian prison following the intervention of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, expressed his gratitude to Israel and Sharon upon his release. "Mr. Prime Minister, thank you very much, I love you very much and I don't know how to express this. This is only thanks to you. I don't have the words to thank you for your determination. I told my brothers that if I'm not released while Arik Sharon is Prime Minister, I would never be released. I am fortunate and proud to...

Bearded, full of blisters and gaunt from eight years in Egyptian prison, Israeli businessman and convicted spy Azzam Azzam returned to Israel Sunday in exchange for six Egyptian terrorists in a deal reflecting the warming relations with Egypt. In a conversation with President Moshe Katsav, Azzam said he was proud of the state of Israel, which did not forget him, and "gave me new life." "I am proud of the government of Israel, which did not forget me. There is no other nation on earth that would have done this for me," Azzam said. Katsav responded by saying, "All of...