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Michele Chabin reports that the possible US decision to free spy Jonathan Pollard, an American Jew convicted in 1987 of spying for Israel, has politicians, settlers and activists on all sides in an uproar over whether the price is too high. Israel's news media reported that the Obama administration is weighing the release of Pollard in return for Israeli concessions to the Palestinians on settlement building and freeing of Palestinian prisoners. Pollard was arrested on November 21, 1985 after the conclusion of an investigation into suspicion he was spying for Israel. He was convicted in 1987 to a life sentence for one count of espionage.
Pollard is the only person in US history to receive a life sentence for spying for an ally and the only American citizen convicted of such a crime to be sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. Pollard is considered by many in Israel and the American Jewish community to be a national hero. Supporters of his release argue that his sentencing was disproportionately harsh and that he was acting out of loyalty to Israel, not mal-intent against the U.S., and that the documents he handed over to Israel were about Arab countries and the Soviet Union, not US intelligence methods. US officials claim the damage done by Pollard's spying is far worse than people realize. In an interview with Foreign Policy, retired Adm. Thomas Brooks, the former director of naval intelligence, said Pollard's actions have been "exceeded only by Edward Snowden," the NSA whistleblower. The last time US officials considered releasing Pollard during the Clinton administration, CIA Director George Tenet told Clinton he would resign if Pollard were released.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Phoenix666 on Thursday April 03 2014, @01:40PM
I have been gratified to see so many long-held illusions torn away in the last five years, that you can get ahead if you study hard and work hard, that we live in a functioning democracy, and so on and so on. It would be excellent to see the illusion that Israel is our friend and ally torn away as well. They are a hostile power that has deeply infiltrated our government and country and use that influence to inflict terrible suffering on the Palestinians. It would be the best thing for the Palestinians, the Israelis, and peace in the Middle East in general if Israel didn't have the United States to give it cover for its crimes any more. Then they would be compelled to bury the hatchet. And to clarify, when I say "Israel" I really mean Likud and Shas, because Labor is quite reasonable by comparison.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 03 2014, @02:40PM
Well said, sir !
One thing you forgot : the Israelis MURDERED Rachel Corrie.
For this reason alone they are not a country which deserves
consideration from the US.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 03 2014, @03:24PM
Does anyone really believe peace in the middle east is possible so long as Israel and all their opponents still both exist?
(Score: 1) by gishzida on Thursday April 03 2014, @03:43PM
Shas and the haredi parties are not in the drivers seat any more. They are in the opposition... with Labor. The last election got two new party's enough seats to give Netanyahu the PM office again. Yesh Atid led by Yair Lapid and "The Jewish Home" party led by Naftali Bennett. Bennett stands for annexing the West Bank. A plan not supported by Yesh Atid nor apparently Netanyahu.
Annexation is a terrible idea.