Alexander Yulin, 44-year-old former captain in the Israel army, was charged today with espionage for Egypt. Mr. Yulin, born in the Soviet Union and a veteran of Israel’s War of Liberation, pleaded not guilty in Tel Aviv’s District Court.
The prosecution claims that Mr. Yulin, who was discharged from the Israel Army last year, after an unsuccessful attempt at farming complicated by family difficulties, left Israel as a correspondent for a local newspaper. A former Red Army officer, Mr. Yulin was supposed to be returning to the USSR.
However, in Switzerland, Mr. Yulin became involved in currency difficulties, was arrested and expelled from the country. According to the prosecutor, he went to Vianna where he approached the Soviet Embassy and was asked to give information on “Jewish institutions.” From there he want to Germany where an approach to American intelligence was rejected.
Finally, in Paris, Mr. Yulin allegedly made contact with an Egyptian Embassy military attache whom he convinced that he had information of value about the Israeli Army. The prosecution charges that Mr. Yulin was taken by the Egyptians first to Athens, then to Cairo where he met with intelligence officers and directors of the Hebrew section of Radio Cair.
After a few weeks he was flown back to Athens and then made his way to Israel. Here he is said to have approached Israel intelligence officers and offered his services. He was arrested.
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