Pentagon chief in bid to defuse Egypt-Israel tensions

 US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta was headed to Cairo from Tel Aviv on Tuesday in an effort to defuse tensions between Egypt and Israel that have mounted since the end of Hosni Mubarak’s rule.


Before flying out after a one-day visit to Israel, Panetta said he will seek to encourage both sides to ease friction over the Sinai and will ask Egypt’s military rulers to release an alleged Israeli spy.


Ilan Grapel, a US-Israeli dual national, is accused of spying for Israel and has been in custody since June 12 but Israeli officials say it is all a mistake.


Speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv on Monday, Panetta said he hoped Grapel would be released but did not say whether the accused would be freed during his visit to Cairo as reported by some media.The Pentagon chief planned to reassure Cairo of Washington’s commitment to the two governments’ longstanding security ties.


He will also “encourage the transitional government to take the necessary and irreversible steps to clear the way for democracy,” said a senior defence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.


Panetta met Egyptian Foreign Minister Muhammed Amr last week in Washington.