Скачать с ютуб Return of prisoner Azzam Azzam to his village in northern Israel в хорошем качестве

Return of prisoner Azzam Azzam to his village in northern Israel

(6 Dec 2004) SHOTLIST 1. Wide of crowd waiting for the return of Azzam Azzam 2. Wide of flags on a line 3. Various of people arriving 4. Wide of crowd, zoom to Azzam arriving 5. Crowd 6. Azzam waving Israeli flag, crowd 7. Azzam drinking from a bottle 8. Wide of crowd 9. Azzam addressing supporters 10. Crowd 11. Azzam on the shoulders of his supporters STORYLINE A quiet Israeli Arab town in the scenic hills of the Galilee erupted in celebration on Sunday after the release of Azzam Azzam, a Mughar resident who spent eight years in an Egyptian village on espionage charges. Azzam, who maintained his innocence throughout, was released in exchange for six Egyptian students Israel arrested in August for allegedly crossing the border illegally and planning to kidnap soldiers. It was well after nightfall when Azzam finally returned home, nearly nine hours after he crossed the Egyptian border into Israel at the southern port of Eilat. Thousands of cheering well-wishers lined the streets of the town of 17,000 in the hills overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Jubilant crowds transported Azzam on their shoulders in the direction of a stage set up for the occasion in the town. Azzam told the crowd that his release was the result of efforts by "the government of the hero, Arik Sharon," referring to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon by his nickname. Israeli Health Minister Dan Naveh, who met Azzam in prison several times, also addressed the crowd. Happy relatives and friends didn't wait for his arrival to start the party. As soon as he was freed Sunday morning, the singing and dancing began at the Azzam's family's home in Mughar. His female relatives passed around a giant tray of traditional Arab sweets. Male relatives pulled out chain saws and cut down a fence and trees in the yard to build a stage where singers were to perform upon Azzam's arrival. Some cheered and wept with relief. At least one family member pulled out a rifle and shot into the air in joy. Israeli officials said the release was a sign of warming relations between Israel and Egypt. They signed a peace accord in 1979, but relations have been cool. They turned frigid with the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising in 2000, when Egypt withdrew its ambassador, blaming Israel for using too much force against Palestinians. Now Israel and Egypt have identified common interests in coordinating Israel's planned pullout from Gaza next year. Gaza borders Egypt. Talking briefly to reporters Sunday afternoon, Sharon said that in phone call to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, he "thanked Mubarak for his decision, and we spoke about strengthening ties and about widening cooperation between Egypt and Israel." Then Sharon went to the Tel Aviv hotel where Azzam was taken for debriefing before returning home. Azzam is a member of the Druze religious sect, a secretive offshoot of Islam. Azzam, 42, was arrested in November 1996. Prosecutors said their case was based on a pair of women's undergarments soaked in invisible ink that was found in Azzam's suitcase. They accused him of giving the undergarments to an Egyptian accomplice, who used the invisible ink to pass Israel information on Egyptian factories. Azzam, a father of four, was with the Egyptian-Israeli Tefron textile factory in Cairo before he was arrested just before the start of a major economic conference. Azzam was convicted and sentenced to 15 years at hard labour in 1997. Egyptian officials said he was a partner in the firm, but his brother Fandi said on Sunday that Azzam was only an employee. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...