Egypt accused one of its nuclear engineers of spying for Israel. The Egyptian prosecutor’s office on Tuesday alleged that Mohamed Ali, an engineer with the state’s Atomic Energy Agency, passed documents on a research reactor to Israel in exchange for money.
Egypt alleged also that two foreigners, an Irishman and a Japanese, recruited Ali as part of a front operation for Israel in Hong Kong. Ali, 35, was arrested in February. The two others are wanted by Egyptian authorities.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem denied any knowledge of the alleged affair. In the past, Egypt has concocted allegations of spying on behalf of Israel that do not appear to have any basis in reality.
Egypt announced recently that it could pursue nuclear energy, stirring concern abroad that this could be part of an Arab effort to match Iran’s atomic ambitions, with the potential for producing bombs.
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