Family members of Azzam Azzam, the Druze Israeli imprisoned in an Egyptian jail for allegedly spying on behalf of the Mossad, accused Arab Knesset members of asking Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to make Azzam's release conditional on the release of all Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel. Knesset leaders vowed to do more to seek the Israeli's release.

"Ten MKs signed a letter to Mubarak nine months ago, saying that Azzam should not be released until the last of the Palestinian prisoners in Israel is set free," charged Akram Hasson, chairman of the Committee for the Release of Azzam Azzam yesterday at the Knesset. His accusation was based on a report published in an opposition Egyptian newspaper a number of months ago.

Family members raised the charges at a special Knesset session marking the fifth anniversary of Azzam's imprisonment. Azzam's wife, and three of his four children attended the session. Heads of all the Knesset factions were present, except for the notable absence of the leaders of the Arab parties.

"If this is true, it is unforgivable," said MK Mossi Raz (Meretz) of the Azzam family's accusation. "If the news is true, it is treachery," charged MK Michael Kleiner (Herut). MK Yuri Stern (Yisrael Beiteinu) said the action by the Arab Knesset members was "terrible and awful."

Arab Knesset members hurried to deny the harsh charges. "It is below our dignity to relate to this matter," said MK Ahmad Tibi (Ta-al), adding that it was "total nonsense." MK Mohammad Barakeh (Hadash) said that Arab Knesset members "do not give instructions to Mubarak and we are not involved in this matter." Barakeh called the charges a "wicked slander."

At the Knesset session, family members decried the harsh conditions of Azzam's imprisonment. Minister without portfolio Danny Naveh (Likud), who visited Azzam last month, described Azzam's conditions as "horrendous." Naveh said Azzam "has spent five years in a narrow cell, with only a mattress on the floor, no fridge to keep his food fresh, and he is in solitary confinement."

Azzam has served five years of a fifteen year-sentence. He was sentenced in 1997 after allegedly confessing to receiving underwear soaked in invisible ink while working at an Israeli-owned textile plant in Cairo.

"He is still alive, but we are concerned that soon he will not be with us," said Azzam's brother, Sami.

"If Omri Sharon was in jail, everything would be different," said Wafa, another of Azzam's brothers. He said that because the family is Druze, and therefore, in his opinion, treated as second-class Israeli citizens, no one is doing anything to release Azzam from what he describes as "Egyptian captivity."

"The entire Knesset is united for his cause," Naveh said. Naveh and Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg (Labor) promised to send a non-partisan committee to Egypt to lobby on Azzam's behalf. MK Nawaf Mazalha (Labor) has reportedly volunteered to lead the committee and liaise with Azzam's relatives.

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