Israel Welcomes Jonathan Pollard's Release
JERUSALEM, Israel For the first time in three decades, Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard and his wife, Esther, will spend Shabbat (Sabbath) together. Israelis welcomed what many considered his long overdue release.
After 30 years behind bars, Pollard, 61, walked out of a U.S. federal prison in Butner, North Carolina, Friday, met by his wife, Esther, and attorney, Eliot Lauer.
Pollard, a U.S. citizen, was working as a civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy when he met an Israeli officer on leave in 1984. The details behind his decision to begin spying for Israel may never be revealed, but it's understood that his efforts may have saved Israeli lives.
In November 1985, FBI agents arrested Pollard outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, where he was seeking asylum. In 1986, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit espionage and was sentenced to life the following year.
In January 2011, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially requested clemency for Pollard in a letter to President Obama.
"Jonathan Pollard has reportedly served longer in prison than any person convicted of similar crimes and longer than the period requested by the prosecutors at the time of his plea bargain agreement. Jonathan has suffered greatly for his actions and his health has deteriorated considerably," Netanyahu wrote.
"I know the United States is a country based on fairness, justice and mercy. For all these reasons, I respectfully ask that you favorably consider this request for clemency. The people of Israel will be eternally grateful," he said.
On Friday, Netanyahu issued a statement welcoming Pollard's release.
"The people of Israel welcome the release of Jonathan Pollard. As someone who raised Jonathan's case for years with successive American presidents, I had long hoped this day would come," Netanyahu said. "After three long and difficult decades, Jonathan has been reunited with his family. May this Sabbath bring him much joy and peace that will continue in the years and decades ahead."
President Reuven Rivlin also congratulated the Pollards on their reunification.
"Blessed is He who frees the imprisoned," Rivlin said. "We all offer blessings at the release of Jonathan Pollard after many long and difficult years of imprisonment. Throughout the years, we have felt Jonathan's pain and felt responsible and obliged to bring about his release."
Pollard, vis-à-vis his attorneys, thanked the thousands of people who have labored for his release and prayed for him and his wife.
"The people of Israel embrace him," Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett told Army Radio on Friday.
Pollard's parole stipulates that he remain in the U.S. for five years, the first three of which must be in a residential area of New York. He is required to meet with a parole officer for a year and forbidden to speak with the media or use the Internet.
Pollard's attorneys and supporters are lobbying U.S. officials to let him come to Israel.
Netanyahu reportedly raised the issue with President Obama during their recent meeting.
A support group called "Justice for Jonathan Pollard" asked people to honor the family's request "to refrain from public statements." The group said supporters can communicate with the family via email at letters4pollard@gmail.com.
