Meanwhile, the 25 Egyptian prisoners to be swapped for Grapel crossed over into Egypt through the Taba crossing. Meanwhile, the 25 Egyptian prisoners to be swapped for Grapel crossed over into Egypt through the Taba crossing.



A convoy of three minibuses escorted by police vehicles transported the prisoners to the border crossing from Eilat.

The transfer of the prisoners by the Israel Prison Service (IPS) marked the beginning of the exchange procedures. "Thanks be to God," Abdullah, one of the Egyptians being released, told Egyptian state television at the border, which interviewed several as they crossed one-by-one. Several bowed down in prayer. "Thanks be to God," Abdullah, one of the Egyptians being released, told Egyptian state television at the border, which interviewed several as they crossed one-by-one. Several bowed down in prayer. Another, Rabia Suleiman, who had been serving a four-year jail term on drugs charges, was asked what he would do on his return: "I'll come here and find any job, and I won't go back." Another, Rabia Suleiman, who had been serving a four-year jail term on drugs charges, was asked what he would do on his return: "I'll come here and find any job, and I won't go back." cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: '36af7c51-0caf-4741-9824-2c941fc6c17b' }).render('4c4d856e0e6f4e3d808bbc1715e132f6'); });

After speaking with his mother, Grapel was expected to drive to Jerusalem for a brief meeting with Netanyahu.The United States, which provides the army that now runs Egypt with billions of dollars in military aid, had called for Grapel's release.

US Congressman Gary Ackerman, who pressed for Grapel's release, travelled to Israel to accompany him back to the United States, his office said in a statement.

The US-brokered exchange deal was reached shortly after the much more high-profile, Egyptian-brokered swap between Israel and Hamas that freed captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian security prisoners.

All of the Egyptian prisoners, according to information supplied by the Prison Service, were serving time for criminal – rather than terrorist-related – offenses. The group of prisoners also includes three minors.

The exchange was set in motion following the High Court of Justice's refusal of two petitions against the deal late Wednesday evening.

The High Court debated the appeals, but – as it did last week in theSchalit swap – denied them on the grounds that these types of exchanges are within the government’s purview.

Joanna Paraszczuk, Herb Keinon and Ben Hartman contributed to this report.