Butner, NC – Pollards Dismiss Rumors of Impending Release by President Obama

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    At the entrance to Jerusalem a poster was put up, depiciting the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton demanding her help to secure the release of longtime prisoner Jonathan Pollard. Photo by Uri Lenz/Flash90Butner, NC – Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard’s wife Esther called a report that her husband would be released by US President Barack Obama following the November 6 US election Sunday “an idle rumor.”

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    A report in the Yediot Ahoronot newspaper cited a “high-level Israeli official” saying that Obama intended to commute Pollard’s life sentence as part of the list of pardons and clemencies he will grant between the election and when his term ends in January.

    “I will be very surprised if Pollard will not go free at the end of his term,” the official said. The official cited the conversation between President Shimon Peres and Obama in Washington in March as the reason for his optimism.

    The contents of the conversation have been kept a secret.

    The campaign for Pollard’s release, however, said there had been many false reports over the years about his imminent release. For instance, in April, 2005, Yediot Aharonot reported on its front page that then-US president George W. Bush would release him to help then-prime minister Ariel Sharon sell his withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

    “This is not the first time such cynical news stories have spun rumors which detract attention and concern for my husband’s plight,” Esther Pollard said. “We have been through this numerous times before. The headlines always promise Jonathan’s release at some future date which never arrives, while at the same time alleviating the pressure for Jonathan’s release in the present tense.”

    Asked whether she had any doubts that perhaps this time the rumor might be true, Pollard, replied, “It is time to press for Jonathan’s release now, and not rely on baseless rumors for some future uncertain date.”

    Political officials speculated that the report might have been leaked in order to influence the Jewish vote in the American election or to send a message to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that Obama had leverage over him in Pollard.

    “We have to be optimistic and do what we can even if the article connected to election and the possibility of a meeting between Netanyahu and Obama,” said MK Ronit Tirosh (Kadima), who heads the Knesset’s Pollard lobby. “We should do what we can to reach the people who have influence on Obama if we hope to succeed to bring him home.”

    Pollard, who was arrested in November 1985, marked his 9800th day in captivity last Thursday.

    Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post


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    39 Comments
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    11 years ago

    No U.S. president will ever release Pollard. Its unfair to the family to start such rumors. It ain’t gonna happen for obvious reasons.

    iamoverhere
    iamoverhere
    11 years ago

    he needs those jewish votes, this is probably the only way he can get them,
    but he doesn’t have my vote

    11 years ago

    It seems to me that it would not suit Mrs Pollard and her cohorts if her traitorous husband was to be released at all.

    11 years ago

    Jews who pressure the administration to release Pollard are violating Torah law. In reality this should be done privately between Israel and America. We know you want to have a free Israeli citizen, but he is a violator of International Laws and conduct. He is in jail for a reason. To pester people for his release violates the torah law of not putting a stepping stone before the blind. I stay out of this one.

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    11 years ago

    I am willing to take bets. He will die in prison.

    11 years ago

    Clemency, Commutation, Pardon, and Release.

    I’m not sure whether the media is being sloppy in its choice of words regarding the Pollard case, or whether they are being accurate, and just sloppy in presuming we all know the distinctions between the terms they are using.

    So, for the benefit of all the prominant(sic) lawyers who read VIN, here’s my understanding (I welcome corrections from all the prominent lawyers who also read vin). I don’t know all the practical nafka minot for voting, holding elective office, ability to sue for redress, protection from related civil suits, etc:

    Pollard seems to be asking for clemency, meaning he wants forgiveness of a crime. One of the secondary consequences of being forgiven for a crime is having one’s imprisonment ended.

    When I’ve read the US government discuss the matter, they talk of considering commutation, meaning no forgiveness for the crime, just a reduction in the penalty, which might mean immediate release.

    Others have spoken in terms of a pardon, which would mean Pollard would have to admit and accept his guilt, and the US government would forgive him. A secondary consequence would be freeing him.

    (to be cont’d)

    11 years ago

    Clemency, Commutation, Pardon, and Release (continued)

    Release is a much broader term, and could include letting a prisoner out for a relative’s funeral, or a conjugal visit, or a work program which has prisoners returning each evening after work outside of prison. A release in no way means forgiveness of a crime or reduction of the punishment. One way nations use a prisoner ‘release’ is to save face in an international negotiation. For instance, Iran ‘released’ Sarah Shourd. The formal expectation was that she return to complete her prison sentence; she has not been forgiven by Iran or had her punishment reduced. The US is attempting to negotiate with Cuba to release — to visit his mother. The formal expectation would be that he return to Cuba to finish serving his sentence.

    11 years ago

    Bill Clinton, double crossed Netanyahu, when he initially promised him in 2000, that he would have Pollard released. Clinton made up some nonsensical excuse, that his CIA Director would resign, as he was against the release. Instead, Clinton pardoned a number of worse criminals, including Mark Rich, who was a fugitive from justice. The reason-Rich’s wife was a large contributor to Clinton, and the Democratic party. Also, Ms. Hillary, in 2000 (when she was running for the U.S. Senate), stated that she had concerns about Pollard’s treatment, by the various courts. Yet, in 2012, she did a 180 degree turn, and slammed the door to any future commutation of Pollard’s sentence; when she was questioned about that matter, in Jerusalem, she was negative. There is really no difference between Bill and Hillary, when it comes to evading the truth!

    11 years ago

    oops. important.

    Clemency, Commutation, Pardon, and Release. (final)

    If Pollard were ‘just’ released, say formally for the purpose of visiting Israel, he would formally be expected to return to jail, be considered a fugitive from US justice if he did not.

    Sherree
    Sherree
    11 years ago

    I wouldn’t trust Obama if he promised to release Pollard to get elected and for sure he will not release him if he doesn’t get elected so there is no way that Obama is going to show any sympathy or compassion for this Yid.

    speakup
    speakup
    11 years ago

    I would be so pleased to vote for Obama if Pollard is released. I would even ignore other campaign issues if the president would find it in his heart to do the right and compassionate thing. My friends, colleagues, and relatives feel just as strongly as I do about Pollard. Some feel the injustice of his incarceration even more strongly than I do, and have spoken passionately about Pollard’s situation at family simchas and other get-togethers. To the cold, unfeeling commenters above……..May G-d deal with you mercifully this Yom Kippur, even though you show no leniency towards Jonathan Pollard.

    11 years ago

    The issue is not whether he “deserves” to spend the rest of his life in prison. The issue is whether there is a political liklihood any president will grant him a pardon or clemency. Most of us concur with those who believe the sentence was excessive but doubt any President wants to be known as the president who released him.

    The-Macher
    The-Macher
    11 years ago

    Let the medine extradite Mondrowitz first.

    11 years ago

    Once again the ingoramus brigade is out in full force, Some of the comments here are just plain embarrassing. To #2 : You really think Obama “needs those jewish votes, this is probably the only way he can get them”? My dear sir, Obama will win the Jewish vote in a landslide. Evan after slumping somewhat for about a year and a half among Jewish voters in termsof job approval, all polls indicate he’s likely to win between 70 and 75 percent of the Jewish vote. And in swing states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and even Florida, where the Orthodox anti-Obama vote is a much smaller factor than it is in New York, Obama will probably pull about 80-85 percent of the Jewish vote. Besides, Pollard is just not that important an issue to most Jewish voters, To comment #14 , who says he’d vote for Obama if only he releases Pollard: Really? Freeing a man who sold military and intelligence secrets to the highest bidder is a more important issue than the economy, foreign policy, etc.? REALLY?

    Halaivy
    Halaivy
    11 years ago

    This is not a Jewish issue,
    The man was a traitor to the USA that was so good to the Jews and he deserves punishment.
    As for Pidyon Shavuyim Check with your local rov if he has a din of ochicha bemitzvos

    Greener
    Greener
    11 years ago

    Pollard’s “wife”? Does anyone know who exactly was the mesader kedushin?

    zelmo
    zelmo
    11 years ago

    The most important single issue is the release of Pollard. Anyone who stands by and remains silent is partaking in committing murder. Anyone not raising the issue with every Politician they meet is partaking in his murder. Ask your Godolim directly about this and they will tell you this is the truth.
    So what will you do to save a Jewish life? I know what Pollard did! He is in jail because information that was promised by the President of the United States was withheld. He was told by his bosses that he was being too sensitive about Jews and Gas! He reminded them that this information was to be given to Israel by Presidential order. Yes they said but we won’t.
    6 million lives were on the line. He acted to get this information to Israel.
    Let me ask you – if you had information that would save 6 million Jews – what would you do? Shame on all of us for not doing enough to save this Jew.
    We could argue all the other issues around this man – but 3 facts stand out
    1. Israel was promised by the President this type of information.
    2. It was being withheld from Israel
    3. Pollard acted
    So what have YOU done today to save Pollard?
    May the Almighty have mercy on all of us!

    my4amos
    my4amos
    11 years ago

    This whole story doesn’t make much sense.

    Presidents often grant pardons or commutations during their last days in office, i.e. when they are at the very end of their second terms, or the first ones if they failed to get reelected. So for this story to make sense, one should believe that Hussein is about to lose. I happen to know that this is indeed what will happen, but the polls seem to be on Hussein’s side.

    I am not familiar with Israeli secular press, with the exception of Jerusalem Post. Men who know better, please tell me: is this Yediot Ahoronot a reliable reputable publication or a tabloid? Thanks.

    zelmo
    zelmo
    11 years ago

    My information about what type of information Pollard gave to the Israelis comes from the former director of the CIA James Woolsey who knows all the details. More importantly, Mr Woolsey has been calling for the release of Pollard and is saying the only reason that Pollard is still in jail is Anti-Semitism. The information that Pollard had access to and gave to the Israelis consists of capabilities of Israel’s “neighbors” regarding the production of “biological weapons”, and their capacities for delivery. Woolsey, CIA director from 1993 to 1995, stated after examining the Pollard case file that none of Pollard’s information went to the Soviet Union. Another offical who knows all the details is Larry Korb. In a September 27th 2010 letter to President Obama, calling for the immediate release of Jonathan Pollard, Korb wrote: “Based on my first-hand knowledge, I can say with confidence that the severity of Pollard’s sentence is a result of an almost visceral dislike of Israel and the special place it occupies in our foreign policy on the part of my boss at the time, Secretary of Defense Weinberger.” BTW, Weinberger submitted a false affidavit to the sentencing judge & was pardoned.