McCain
on PollardMcCain
Republican
presidential candidate Senator John McCain said he would oppose the release of
Jonathan Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst currently serving a
life sentence in prison for spying for Israel.
McCain
told the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations that
Pollard "betrayed our nation."
In
contrast, McCain's stance on Israel was more agreeable to Jewish leaders. McCain
told the group that if he were elected president, he would "immediately"
move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He also said that
he would support a multibillion-dollar aid package to implement a peace deal between
Syria and Israel.
While
Jewish leaders did not agree with McCain's opposition to Pollard's release, they
did give him credit for being straightforward.
Pollard
Jonathan
Jay Pollard was born in America on August 7, 1954. He first studied history and
philosophy at Stanford University (California), then Law at Notre Dame University
(Indiana).
Pollard
later accepted a job offer in the American intelligence services as a civilian
Navy Intelligence Officer. In this context, he dealt with classified information
concerning Israel's security such as activities of Arab countries and terrorist
groups hostile to Israel.
Despite
a Convention of Reciprocity between the United States and Israel, certain information
vital to Israeli security was being withheld by the United States. Pollard considered
he had a moral duty to warn Israel of the threat to its security. Pollard wrote,
"I'd rather be rotting in prison than sitting "shiva"
for the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who could have died because of my cowardice."
In
1985, Jonathan Pollard was arrested and condemned to a life sentence without any
possibility of parole for espionage in favor of Israel. Many voices, including
thousands of American lawyers and jurists, have denounced this unusually harsh
sentence. The median sentence for spying for an ally is 2-4 years. Pollard has
just entered his 14th year in prison with no end in sight. Millions of people
and organizations world-wide have asked President Clinton to release Jonathan
Pollard immediately.
FAQ's:
- What information
did Pollard give Israel?
The information related to Syrian and Iraqi
poison gas production and nuclear capabilities being developed for use against
Israel, as well as planned terrorist attacks against Israeli civilian targets.
- Did
Pollard seek a legal transfer of this information?
When Pollard
discovered this suppression of information and asked his superiors about it, he
was told to “mind his own business”, and that “Jews get nervous
talking about poison gas; they don’t need to know.” - What
was Pollard's motivation for illegally transferring the information?
Pollard
knew Israeli lives were being put in jeopardy as a result of this conspiracy,
and he tried to legally restore the flow of information. When his efforts met
no success, he began to give the information to Israel directly. Jonathan Pollard
was an ideologue, not a mercenary. The FBI concluded after nine months of polygraphing
that Pollard acted for ideological reasons only, not for profit. This fact was
recognized by the sentencing judge. - Was
there a trial?
Jonathan Pollard never had a trial. At the request of the
U.S. Government, Pollard entered into a plea agreement. He spared the U.S. a long,
difficult, expensive and potentially embarrassing trial, and he cooperated fully
with the prosecution. After upholding his end of the plea agreement, the government
violated its end of the plea agreement by passing down a life sentence without
parole. - What
was the charge?
Pollard was charged only with one count of passing classified
information to an ally. He was never charged with treason. He was never indicted
for harming the United States. - What
was the sentence?
Pollard received a life sentence and a recommendation
that he never be paroled. No one else in the history of the United States has
ever received a life sentence for passing classified information to an ally. The
median sentence for this crime is 2-4 years. Even agents who have given information
to enemy nations did not receive such a heavy sentence. - Was
there an appeal?
Pollard appealed, but his appeal was rejected on
a technicality. It had not been filed on time. - Does
Pollard show remorse?
Jonathan Pollard has repeatedly expressed his remorse
publicly and in private letters to the President and others. He regrets having
broken the law, and is sorry he did not find a legal means to act upon his concerns
for Israel. - What
is Pollard's relationship with Israel?
- In
November 1995, Israel granted Jonathan Pollard Israeli citizenship. This publicly
signaled to the US, Israel's willingness to accept full responsibility for Pollard.
- On
May 12, 1998, Israel formally acknowledged Jonathan Pollard was an official Israeli
agent. This fact wiped out any remaining doubt about Jonathan Pollard's motives.
Being an official agent is, by definition, the polar opposite of being a mercenary.
In the same May 12, 1998 statement, the Government of Israel publicly acknowledged
full responsibility for Jonathan Pollard, and indicated its commitment to his
immediate repatriation to Israel.
- Four
Prime Ministers of Israel and three Presidents of Israel have all personally requested
Jonathan Pollard's release from the President of the US. Each one pledged to be
personally responsible for their agent who has now served 14 years in prison under
harsh conditions, and who has fully expressed his remorse.
|
Sources~
Lisa Katz
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