Netanyahu to Kerry: Pollard's life in danger, let him die a free man

[Derek V]

Source: Jerusalem Post

By HERB KEINON \ 12/06/2014 19:18


The time has come for the US to release Jonathan Pollard so he can live the rest of his life as a free man, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday night, following Pollard’s hospitalization the previous day after he lost consciousness.

On Saturday evening, activists working on behalf of Pollard’s release said that his wife, Esther, was told that he was not in danger, and would shortly be returned to the North Carolina federal prison under the supervision of its infirmary. He will apparently need surgery soon.

Netanyahu told Kerry “that after 30 years in prison the time has come for his release to live the rest of his life as a free man.”

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations said that Pollard’s hospitalization, following his loss of consciousness, “underscores the need for immediate action for his release. It is regrettable and inexplicable that the parole board denied his application after serving 30 years, much of it in solitary confinement, far beyond anyone accused of a comparable crime.

Read more: http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahu-to-Kerry-Pollards-life-in-danger-let-him-die-a-free-man-383817

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I support this. In fact, I think Pollard should've been paroled after 15 or 20 years.

[marble falls]

1. Let him do his time. He took cash for his treason.

[Blue State Bandit]

2. No more Settlements, and your Resignation... Deal!

And take Lieberman with you.

[alp227]

3. Joe Lieberman? Why? nt

[Blue State Bandit]

6. Avigdor. And feel free to add names.

https://www.google.com/search?q=zibne+lieberman&oq=zibne+lieberman&aqs=chrome..69i57.9313j0j8&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8#gs_ssp=eJzj4tTP1TcwLSjOjQcADaYC8w&q=avigdor+lieberman&search_plus_one=form

[Recursion]

32. Avi, presumably (nt)

[marble falls]

15. No more Settlements alone actually works for me if it somehow doesn't justify every other....

settlement up to now. Lieberman? Eh.

[blackcrowflies]

36. you seriously think they'd keep their word

about no more settlements? I have a bridge you might be interested in.

[marble falls]

37. A person can dream can't he?

[rpannier]

4. You support the pardon of this guy?

A man who released highly classified documents to a government that wasn't entitled to them.
Those documents were traded to the Soviet Union by the Israeli government to secure the release of Jews in the USSR
Forget it
He can rot in jail.
If he dies there... oh well.

[Blue State Bandit]

8. He's a burnt spy. For Be-Be's political head... I'd say fuck yeah, but nothing less.

And the resignation of the Likud/Ultra Rightwing leadership should be on the table as well. We're (US) already preparing sanctions over settlement expansion.

[davidpdx]

11. Maybe we should ask Benjamin Netanyahu if he's like to trade places with him?

I'm sure he'd be so willing to do it.

[Blue State Bandit]

12. Winner!

[marble falls]

16. Is there any chance - any chance at all - he'd do it?

[NaturalHigh]

5. I agree. It's time to let him go.

Israel has said he can live out his remaining days there. He deserves mercy in the time he has left.

[nichomachus]

7. Let him go

Make him live in Gaza

[karynnj]

10. Of course Israel will let him live there - he GAVE them US secrets

The charges he faced were such that the Reagan administration gave him a sentence of life. Neither Clinton or GWB saw compelling reason to release him.

Last year, there was a possibility that the US would give him to Israel, but only in exchange for something very major in the peace process - something Netanyahu was never an honest partner on. After how Netanyahu treated Obama and Kerry, they certainly do not owe him any favors. Maybe he should ask Romney to work on this.

[Scootaloo]

13. Interesting for a nation that so regularly gripes of criminals being hailed as heroes

[cstanleytech]

14. Respectfully disagree. He was given a life sentence for a good reason and he should serve it. nt

[AlbertCat]

19. He deserves mercy in the time he has left.

Why?

He couldn't convince a parol board to let I'm out.

Is he being mistreated? Or getting medical care (at our expense)?


What's unmerciful?

[840high]

29. Yes.

[karynnj]

9. So, Netanyahu publicly insults both Obama and Kerry --- and then asks for a favor?

This after he went to the right with the recent bill to change Israel's founding document to declare that only Jews have self determination? After he announced more new illegal settlements? After he has treated Obama poorly - even as the only thing that stands between the UN passing a resolution supporting a Palestinian state is the US and its veto?

Not to mention, I suspect that he sees him getting this helps him in the coming election -- as it shows he can get what he asks for from the US - even as he lies about the administration as he did this summer.

Pollard's release should be based on US law - and any clemency or mercy that could be justified. The fact is that he stole more secrets than anyone ever convicted here. The fact that he gave them to Israel - not the Russia, China or Iran does not make it better. (In fact, ask yourself - if he had given the same secrets to Iran, what would Netanyahu have to say about him?)

[hatrack]

22. My thoughts exactly - pander to the righties, slam our President as incompetent or stupid . . .

And then put your hand out?

Uh, no.

[George II]

17. Interesting coming from him...........

....his country, which was supposed to have been our closest ally, paid Pollard to steal classified secrets and give them to Israel.

Now the leader of Israel wants the US to release him? Sorry, I'm a compassionate person, but he should not be released.

Using Netanyahu's "logic", should EVERY criminal in EVERY prison be released just because they're ill?

[MrModerate]

18. I believe the idea of the sentence . . .

Was that he would die in prison for his crimes.

Get stuffed, Bibi.

[AlbertCat]

20. Don't tell us what to do....

Geeze!

[SteveG]

21. He took money for spying, that is treason.

Citizens who spy for foreign nations especially for money, are committing Treason. He is lucky he did not get the death penalty. Let him rot.

[marble falls]

23. Its the money taking alone that makes me say "serve your time".

[jmowreader]

24. Outside of wartime, spies very rarely get the death penalty

The Rosenbergs are the only ones I can think of.

And as for Pollard...he was sentenced to die in a US prison, and he should do that.

[okaawhatever]

25. Zero sympathy for the Pollard or Bibi. Both are enemies of the US if you ask me. nt

[BillZBubb]

31. +1000!

[Sunlei]

26. 30 years much in solitary is enough USA Federal prison torture, send him home.

[liberalhistorian]

27. Fuck Bibi and

fuck Pollard. He's right where he belongs and should stay there. Who the hell does Bibi think he is giving orders to Kerry? Oh, yeah, that's right. He thinks he can do that with Obama, too. Remind him who helps financially keep his country afloat.

[MADem]

28. His life is not in danger. He's quite safe in jail.

He's not going to stop aging, or being subject to illness, if he is moved somewhere else.

I take a dim view of people who sell or hand off secrets to foreign powers. That kind of thing puts American lives at risk. Much of what he handed off to (cough) Israel (cough) ended up in places like ... Pakistan. So what's up with THAT?

He put the US Navy through HELL. I have zero sympathy for him. He's got three hots and a cot, and access to visitors. I think he should resign himself to serving the sentence his actions merited. Life means life, and it was appropriate in his case.

[BillZBubb]

30. He's right where he belongs. Keep him there.

I might feel differently had Pollard ever showed real remorse and admitted he betrayed his country to a foreign nation.

[Jake Stern]

33. That's rich

considering the onerous restrictions the Israeli government still has on Mordecai Vanunu.

[bemildred]

34. Chutzpah. nt

[denbot]

35. Fuck that traitorous bastard.

Not one day outside the walls!

[yellowcanine]

38. Regardless of the merits, Netanyahu has no standing to make this request.

Pollard is a U.S. citizen who was convicted in U.S. courts of a serious crime. Netanyahu has no standing to advise on the administration of the U.S parole system for anyone, let alone someone Israel admittedly paid to spy on the U.S.

[HappyMe]

39. Yeah, we'll get right on that.

Netanyahu has no say in this.

Leave Pollard where he is.