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Thursday, March 28, 2024

America Spys on Israel: Pollard Must Be Released

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The Jewish Voice calls for the Obama administration to display compassion on Jonathan Pollard and commute his lengthy prison sentence.

Now that the NSA international spying scandal has come to the fore, one cannot help but think of the blatant hypocrisy that lies therein.  Here is the world’s ostensible superpower sending reconnaissance agents and stealth equipment into practically every country on the planet to slake its need for “intelligence” information and then has the colossal audacity to ask forgiveness when the revelations become public.

So, the US admits to overstepping its boundaries; to listening in on conversations of world leaders, many of whom are staunch allies, and makes it clear that egregious mistakes can be made even by those with the very best of intentions. The administration has its proverbial tail between its legs and its attempts to rectify the situation and make amends.

The question that we must ask is: Does this sort of request for expiation only apply when the US engages in such conduct?

Let us pause and remember the fact that Jonathan Pollard has been languishing in a federal prison for almost 29 years on the fallacious grounds of “espionage” of an ally country. It is interesting to note that when he asks for forgiveness; when his family beseeches the powers that be that his outrageously long sentence be commuted, they are met with callous indifference and outright refusals.

Recently, Pollard’s family said they were deeply distressed over the fact that the US will not forgive and release him, even after the United States was caught spying on Israeli targets.  According to published reports, the manager of the campaign to release Pollard, Effie Lahav said, “Once again, it turns out that reality is not black or white. Calls by US officials for the release of Pollard for considerations of justice are now being reinforced, but all we want is to see him alive, so we ask for compassion. The reports increased the family’s expectation that the serious considerations in favor of his release will now receive renewed attention.”

Lahav commented on the New York Times story regarding the United States’ friendly spying on Israel, saying: “We and the family believe that even if there are differences between the situations, in the end what everyone sees is that even great friends can make mistakes on the issue of spying with good intentions. This understanding must be taken into account when talking about Pollard.”

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In some three weeks, Jonathan Pollard is to begin his 29th year in American prison. “Esther and Jonathan are going through some very difficult days,” Lahav said. “In the last year alone, Jonathan was hospitalized five times, and in some of the cases, there was real danger to his life. He is very weak and it is clear to us all the next hospitalization is just a matter of time.”

Pollard himself has not yet been updated on the new report regarding NSA surveillance of Israeli military targets. However, Lahav said, “From conversations with Esther after previous revelations about the friendly spying of the US, we know that despite his many years in prison, there is no gloating . He understands that he broke the law and expressed full regret. He will soon turn 60 and all he wants is to be given the opportunity to rebuild the ruins of his life in the time that he has left to live.”

The campaign for Pollard’s release is getting many calls from American and Israeli citizens who hope that the recent reports of the eavesdropping affairs will lead President Obama to show more compassion for Pollard.

According to Lahav, “Over the years there were quite a few people who were convicted in the US of spying for a friendly country, but none of them have served even half the time that Jonathan has been sitting in prison. We are feeling encouraged by the fact that there are those in the US who are calling for reconsideration of the strict attitude towards Pollard.”

The Jewish Voice prodigiously endorses the commutation of Jonathan Pollard’s sentence. In the name of legal equity, freedom and democracy, we strongly call upon the Obama administration to “do unto others, as you would have others do unto you.” Forgive Pollard in tangible terms; save this man’s life and give him the freedom that has eluded him for close to three decades.

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