Group urges Olmert to ask U.S. for Jonathan Pollard's release - Haaretz

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		Jonathan Pollard blasted his former recruiter and handler, incoming Knesset member Rafi Eitan, the chairman of the Pensioner's Party.

Last update - 23:47 19/05/2008

Group urges Olmert to ask U.S. for Jonathan Pollard's release

By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent

Tags: Jonathan Pollard

A committee working for the release of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard asked Prime Minister-designate Ehud Olmert and the leaders of other Kneset parties on Wednesday to submit an additional formal request asking the United States government to grant Pollard clemency.

The Committee to Free Jonathan Pollard, with the cooperation of Pollard's wife Esther, has told Olmert that a source close to Bush told them that if Israel submits another request, it will be accepted under humanitarian considerations and as a gesture to the new Israeli government.

Pollard has been in an American jail for 21 years for spying for Israel while serving as a U.S. Navy intelligence analyst.

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The committee issued a letter on Wednesday, the eve of the Passover holiday, written by Pollard a few days ago. In the letter, he again calls on the Israeli public to act on behalf of his release.

Pollard also blasts his former recruiter and handler, incoming Knesset member Rafi Eitan, the chairman of the Pensioner's Party. Pollard blames Eitan, who was then head of a covert department dedicated to scientific and technological espionage, for his capture.

Pollard's letter, however, is mostly an account of his weakening health, due to high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic arthritis, symptoms of glaucoma, and problems with his gall bladder and sinuses.

He notes that he lacks the basic necessities to hold a Passover seder, like matzah and wine. He also describes his severe loneliness and concern for his wife, who lives in Jerusalem and works tirelessly for his release, despite what he calls the Israeli government's lack of support.

The committee called on the Israeli public to leave a chair empty for Pollard during the Passover Seder, and to read his letter out loud

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1.	Pollard freedom	02:41	\|	Colin	13/04/06

2.	Esther`s fairy tale	04:42	\|	David Howard	13/04/06

3.	Make a Deal on Pollard	05:15	\|	Tim Raisbeck	13/04/06

4.	Pollard is no more victimized then sick people (crack addicts)	06:19	\|	Daniel	13/04/06

5.	Pollard	06:53	\|	Shilo	13/04/06

6.	Those pestering, wheedling Israelis	10:42	\|	SpottedClick	13/04/06

7.	Pollard	11:31	\|	Daniel	13/04/06

8.	why would the US free a criminal spy who betrayed his country	11:39	\|	American	13/04/06

9.	Release him. He harmed USA not.	13:21	\|	Pablo	13/04/06

10.	Betrayal Times 2	13:26	\|	Jim	13/04/06

11.	For Pablo	13:35	\|	SpottedClick	13/04/06

12.	Pablo..Naive..? I doubt it.	14:36	\|	kameel	13/04/06

13.	Newflash!	15:24	\|	inner logic	13/04/06

14.	As soon as Israel releases it`s palestinian political prisoners	15:33	\|	Mike	13/04/06

15.	He is a traitor	15:39	\|	Stephen Murray	13/04/06

16.	Pollard	16:46	\|	Mel	13/04/06

17.	Pollard Is Our Nelson Mandela	17:33	\|	Sam The Sham	13/04/06

18.	NO	18:16	\|	tankstuff	13/04/06

19.	Humanitarian Grounds	18:25	\|	True Brit	13/04/06

20.	why insult mandella?	18:34	\|	rph	13/04/06

21.	Nelson Mandela was no traitor	18:38	\|	Joshua Green	13/04/06

22.	Just get it over with	18:54	\|	David	13/04/06

23.	Also another jew is held...	19:26	\|	Vanunu	13/04/06

24.	Nelson Mandela?	20:12	\|	SpottedClick	13/04/06

25.	Tankstuff?	20:46	\|	Sam The Sham	13/04/06

26.	injury and justice	20:57	\|	Koby	13/04/06

27.	Who Are The Biggest Traitors!	21:18	\|	Sam The Sham	13/04/06

28.	Pollard should Rot	21:27	\|	Luigi Aronson	13/04/06

29.	Pablo	22:13	\|	RAK	13/04/06

30.	The real damage...	22:17	\|	Jenson	13/04/06

31.	Pollard and his deeds	22:21	\|	Jim Anderson	13/04/06

32.	Pollard	22:27	\|	Jim A.	13/04/06

33.	Evangelicals Will Get Pollard Out! Don`t Count On Jews!	23:12	\|	Sam The Sham	13/04/06

34.	pablo 9	00:38	\|	potobac	14/04/06

35.	true brit 15	00:41	\|	potobac	14/04/06

36.	sam the sham 20	00:46	\|	potobac	14/04/06

37.	koby 21	00:49	\|	potobac	14/04/06

38.	sam the sham	01:01	\|	potobac	14/04/06

39.	Pollards State	21:17	\|	RR	14/04/06

40.	traitor	16:49	\|	gideon cohen	04/08/08

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