Netanyahu envoy in Egypt to release a spy

Yisrael Hasson, the personal envoy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Cairo, now, to pressure for the release of an Israeli citizen held since 2000, Israeli radio said on Sunday. Hasson, currently a member of the Knesset for the Kadima Party, is negotiating a deal with the Egyptian officials on Tarabin's release, who was arrested by Egyptian authorities after entering Sinai illegally. Political sources said that Israel continues its efforts to close the Tarabin file, claiming that Egypt had promised to release him as part of the Palestinian-Israeli prisoner swap deal late last year. The relations between Cairo and Tel Aviv have seen some tensions after the departure of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, due to the dispute on Egypt cutting gas exports to Israel after the pipeline was blown up several times. Moreover, Israel questions Egypt's hosting of the Palestinian reconciliation agreement and its decision to open the Rafah crossing border to ease the siege on Gaza. Egypt has witnessed an increase in the activity of Israeli espionage after the revolution of January 25. A Jordanian spy who confessed working for Israel was arrested; a large Israeli spy ring involving Egyptians and Israelis was also unveiled after the revolution. Israeli ambassador to Egypt, Jacob Amitai is scheduled to return from Tel Aviv to Cairo on Monday, after a ten-days-long vacation. The Ambassador preferred to extend his weekend in order to be back after Egyptian celebrations for the revolution's anniversary.