Egypt orders arrest of two Israelis over spying

The Egyptian prosecution general Tuesday ordered arrest of two Israeli nationals and sent them to a Cairo criminal court over espionage charges, state media reported.

Prosecutor General Hesham Barakat referred the two Israelis in absentia to the criminal court, along with two Egyptians who are currently in custody, Xinhua reported.

The prosecution statement said the two Israeli "agents" -- Samuel Ben Zeev and David Wisemen -- are Mossad officers who recruited the two Egyptians -- Sahar Ibrahim and Ramzy Mohamed -- to provide them with classified information on Egypt.

The investigations revealed that the two Egyptian defendants provided the two Israelis with the information in some European countries and received 90,000 euros (about $123,000) in return, the report said.

Earlier this month, Egypt said it busted a spying ring in Sinai with three Egyptians and five Israelis who are alleged Mossad officers, and referred them to criminal court.