Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., February 28, 2008 Adar1 22, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:14 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 21:23 10/06/2007 Witness in Egyptian trial: Spy passed atomic programs to Mossad By The Associated Press A witness testifying in the trial of an Egyptian nuclear engineer charged with spying for Israel said Sunday that the accused obtained documents which were potentially harmful to Egypt illegally and passed them on to Israeli intelligence. Israel has rejected the allegations that they recruited the nuclear engineer, saying the Egyptian claims were baseless. Ali Islam, head of Egypt's atomic agency, said the engineer stole confidential reports from the agency and gave them to the Israeli Mossad in an act that could harm the supreme interests for the nation, politically and economically, the state MENA news agency reported. Advertisement Egypt has charged Mohammed Sayed Saber, 35, a nuclear engineer who used to work for the atomic agency, of stealing classified documents and handing them over to Israel for 17,000 dollars. Islam testified that Saber illegally obtained the documents from his department, kept them for 10 years although they were confidential and classified documents that he (Saber) is not allowed to keep in his possession or travel with. Saber's trial started in April. During a session in May, Saber stunned the court by praising Israel for its advanced technology and claimed the documents he passed on were so outdated they posed no threat to Egyptian security. Islam added that Saber tried in 1999 to meddle in the running of an Egyptian nuclear reactor, after which he was transferred to another department before he could cause serious damage to the plant. On Sunday, Saber was given a chance to speak again in court. He said that his actions in 1999 were a mistake ... with a good intention, MENA reported. The trial adjourned till June 11. Saber was arrested Feb. 18 after returning to Egypt from Hong Kong, were the prosecution said he used to meet with agents working for Israel. One Japanese and one Irish national are also wanted in the case and are being tried in absentia. Israel has dismissed allegations of Saber working for Mossad. Adel Aziz, one of Saber's lawyers described the witness' testimony Sunday as silly, adding that the documents were given to his client by the nuclear agency and that he did not steal anything. If convicted, Saber could face up to 25 years in jail on espionage charges. Egypt was the first Arab country to sign peace treaty with Israel in 1979, but relations have always remained cool at best, and normalization is frowned upon. Egypt has announced several spying cases since then, latest of which an Egyptian-Canadian man was convicted to 15 years for espionage for Israel last month. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Deadly shelling B'Tselem slams IDF decision not to indict troops over errant strike that left 21 civilians dead. Reaching boiling point Gaza residents are told to boil drinking water as purifying chlorine runs out.   1.   He should be executed for national treason 22:14  |  KA 10/06/07   2.   Really?! 23:09  |  Esther 10/06/07   3.   Too old documents 23:13  |  Jakob 10/06/07   4.   First class science and technology 00:48  |  Peter 11/06/07   5.   a Spy is a spy 01:29  |  Palestinian 11/06/07   6.   Absurd 08:31  |  David 12/11/07   7.   RE:absurd 10:05  |  Tabrez Durrani 28/02/08

Today Online IDF kills six militants during operations in W. Bank and Gaza Responses: 16 Editorial: A massive invasion of Gaza is not unavoidable Responses: 2 Reuven Pedatzur: Iran's great nuclear victory Send response Pro-Israel evangelical leader Hagee endorses McCain Responses: 11 Gov't: We didn't know Shabbat bus services would be canceled Send response Rosner's Domain Can Obama restore the Black-Jewish alliance? Why is Farrakhan the litmus test for black politicians? (WTR) Would Obama be supportive of an Israel governed by Likud? Poll: Is it time for Israel to end the blockade in Gaza? Iran Could Have Enough Uranium for a Bomb by Year's End (WTR) More Headlines 09:34 IDF kills six militants during operations in W. Bank and Gaza 09:34 PM: We'll fight Gaza militants until security returns to south 10:05 U.S. pro-Israel evangelical leader Hagee endorses McCain 06:45 Hamas response / Calculated escalation 10:06 Gov't: We didn't know Shabbat bus services would be canceled 10:12 Ban backs Wiesenthal Center's call for UN session on terror 10:14 U.S. Haredim investing heavily in Tel Aviv real estate 10:08 Shas demands it be given Knesset Finance C'tee chairmanship 09:07 Find yourself and your friends on a WeFi WiFi map 09:23 U.S. Jews' opposition holds up JA deal with Christian group 05:14 Decorated IDF officer accused of killing Palestinian in 'vendetta' Previous Editions Select Day 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb

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