Cuba: American Jewish spy Alan Gross released

Cuba announced today (Wednesday) that the American Jewish prisoner Alan Gross, accused of spying will be released "on humanitarian grounds".

Release was made possible after long negotiations with the US government which agreed to release Cuban spies in exchange for 3, as part of a prisoner exchange, and normalization between the two countries.

In conjunction with the steps US President Barack Obama may declare tonight - the removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Gross, 65 today, was arrested in December 2009 while working for the US Agency for International Development and sentenced to 15 years in prison for importing prohibited technology and experience to set up a secret web for Jews in Cuba.

His lawyers and his family described him mentally exhausted, emaciated - after falling 46 pounds during his imprisonment and hunger strike, and he suffers from overall poor health. White House refused for years to free the Cuban spies, but Gross's downward spiral and pressures on government officials brought a change of policy.

Gross's family said today that it is a miracle of Chanukah ". Today the White House issued a statement and said that Gross boarded a plane and is on his way home.

OU organization which operated for his release was quick to issue a statement and to praise and thank the American Government and Hashem. "Our prayers and lobbying acted", said the organization.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!