Global articles on espionage, spying, bugs, and other interesting topics.

Egyptian court sentences 3 men convicted of spying for Israel

Cairo, Egypt (CNN) — An Egyptian court on Thursday sentenced three men — an Egyptian and two Israeli nationals — to 25 years in prison for spying for Israel.

Tarek Abdel-Razek Hussain Hassan, 37, the Egyptian owner of an import-export firm, was arrested in August. The Supreme State Security Court’s criminal department tried the two Israelis in absentia.

Israeli Ambassador Yitzhak Levanon said he had no comment on the case.

Officials charged the three with spying for Israel and harming Egypt’s national interests after Hassan tried to recruit Egyptians working in the telecommunications industry to spy for Israel.

Hassan received $37,000 to recruit Egyptians who could spy in Egypt, Syria and Lebanon for the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency.

According to the charges, the spy ring began in May 2008, when Hassan met abroad with the two Israelis.

Hassan is the first person convicted of spying for Israel since Egypt’s January 25 revolution, which resulted in the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.

“This case sends two messages, one to Egyptians and another to Israel,” said Abdel Aleem Mohamed, senior researcher of Israel Studies at the Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo. “To Egyptians, the way they deal with Israel will be different and that national security issues will be dealt with severely. To Israel, they are sending a message that the system has changed from the days of Mubarak.”

The case closes as another begins. Ilan Grapel, a 27-year-old dual U.S.-Israeli citizen was arrested June 12 on suspicion of spying. Israel denies he is a spy.

Mohamed predicted none of the cases would dramatically affect relations between the countries.

“This situation won’t affect Egypt-Israel ties because Egypt is free to punish whoever compromises the country’s security,” Mohamed said. “Israel would do the same to an Egyptian spy. Spying is what countries do.”