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The great White House hope By Kevin Deutsch Tags: israel news Even the naughtiest Jews know the commandments against breaking the law. But for those who just couldn't help themselves, the road to redemption - for the next three weeks, anyway - leads straight through the Oval Office. The pardon season was kicked off with a high-profile Jewish story: President Bush's exculpation of deceased non-Jewish air force pilot Charles Winters, who illegally sent arms to the nascent Israeli government during the war for independence. Among the remaining cases before Bush, four involve high-profile Jews who likely have a last chance at clemency with the traditional end-of-term pardons. Advertisement Public campaigns have been launched on behalf of Jonathan Pollard, the Navy analyst who was sent to jail for spying on behalf of Israel, and Lewis "Scooter" Libby, a former chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney. Jewish philanthropist and former junk-bond king Michael Milken had his application for pardon submitted by Washington bigwig Ted Olsen. Isaac Toussie, a member of the tight-knit Syrian community, had an initial pardon granted, and then rescinded, last month. Though Bush has excused less convicts than his predecessors, supporters of these candidates say that he may be the best chance these men have. "We have a president who's a friend of Israel. This is the best opportunity we'll have for a while," said Rabbi Pesach Lerner, who has led the drive to free Pollard. Each man has chosen a different path on his quest for clemency. For Libby, supporters in the media, including the editorial board of The Wall Street Journal, are pleading the case for a pardon. Milken, perhaps hoping to rehabilitate his image, has given hundreds of millions of dollars to charity and has sponsored various Jewish institutions. Pollard has had politicians and rabbis go to bat for him. Brooklyn real estate developer Toussie has received the most scrutiny, though. He was sentenced to five months in prison in 2003 for mail fraud and for falsifying mortgage documents, but hired former White House Lawyer Bradford Benson, who has connections to Bush, to plead on his behalf. But when it comes to redemption, the president who giveth can also taketh away. Toussie was pardoned on the same day as Winters, December 23, but that was retracted a day later, when news got out about a nearly $40,000 donation to the Republican National Committee from Toussie's father. In the Jewish communal world, the case that has attracted the most attention is that of Pollard. The former U.S. Navy analyst, serving life in prison for passing military secrets to Israel, has been at the center of a high-profile campaign for clemency since the mid-1980s. Prominent politicians in New York and the CIA have said they favor forgiveness for Pollard. Every Israeli prime minister since Yitzhak Rabin has appealed to America's government for his release. By arrangement with The Forward Bookmark to del.icio.us   Haute advice Sarkozy tells Peres IDF Gaza op does not strengthen Abbas. W speaks Bush says Israel has right to protect itself against Gaza attacks.

Read & React Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff: How much time does the IDF have left in Gaza? Responses: 76 Sarkozy: Hamas to blame for suffering of Palestinians in Gaza Responses: 52 Amira Hass: Wounded Gaza family lay bleeding for 20 hours Responses: 81 'We lost our homes for nothing,' says reservist from former Gaza settlement Responses: 59 Amir Oren: What's happening in Gaza is neither war nor occupation Responses: 35 More Headlines 03:52 Three IDF soldiers killed, one critically wounded in Gaza blast 23:53 Bush: Israel has right to protect itself against Gaza attacks 03:17 Egypt's Mubarak to EU: Hamas must not be allowed to win 23:00 Demonstrators cry 'nuke Israel,' carry Hezbollah flags at U.S. anti-Israel rallies 23:52 Two Israelis wounded by Gaza mortars in western Negev 21:05 U.S. to foil any Arab bid to push Security Council resolution for Gaza cease-fire 03:05 Observers in Israel, Lebanon suspect Hezbollah may escalate tensions on border 20:19 ANALYSIS / Egypt emerges as big winner from Gaza crisis 18:20 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email 18:21 PICTURE GALLERY / Gaza incursion sparks protests around world 23:51 Gaza War Diary III: If Mexico shelled Texas, like Hamas shells Israel 22:30 Iran: We have 70,000 suicide bombers ready to strike Israel 23:51 Israel arrests newsman with Iranian TV for prematurely reporting on IDF entry into Gaza 23:10 Amira Hass / For 48 hours, gunbattles kept wounded Gaza family from medical aid 03:52 Israeli airline secretly flying UN peacemakers around the world 16:35 Livni: Israel will no longer show restraint when attacked 21:42 Over 2,000 take to streets of Haifa to protest IDF Gaza operation 21:17 The Guardian publishes obituary of Hamas terror chieftain killed by IAF 18:21 Mauritania recalls ambassador from Israel in wake of Gaza offensive 14:37 Hamas official: We must lay foundation for a tomorrow without Zionists Previous Editions Select Day 05 jan 04 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 29 dec 28 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec

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