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Jonathan Pollard was jailed for life in 1986 for spying for Israel. (Archive/AP)
Last update - 14:53 21/05/2007
U.S. envoy: Unlikely convicted spy Pollard will ever be released
By The Associated Press

The United States ambassador to Israel said Monday it is unlikely that convicted Pentagon spy Jonathan Pollard will ever be released, adding that the fact that he has not been executed should be seen as an act of clemency by Washington.

Responding to audience questions during an academic conference, Richard Jones said Pollard's crimes appear especially heinous to many Americans because he was caught spying for a friendly power.

"It came out in the trial very clearly, Jonathan Pollard took money for what he did, he sold out his country," Jones said in comments at Bar-Ilan University. "The fact that he wasn't executed is the mercy that Jonathan Pollard will receive."

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Pollard, a civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy, sold military secrets to Israel while working at the Pentagon. He was arrested in 1985 and pleaded guilty at his trial. He is serving a life sentence in a U.S. federal prison.

"This is a very emotional issue in the United States," Jones said. "I know he was helping a friend but that's what makes it even more emotional for Americans, if a friend would cooperate in aiding and abetting someone who is committing treason against his own country."

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  1.   Nonsense has he been to Sederot Lately? 15:14  |  Sam Weinstein 21/05/07
  2.   Clemency! And Ames and Hanson?? 15:16  |  Alan 21/05/07
  3.   Ambassador Jones 15:16  |  Michael 21/05/07
  4.   No defense of Pollard but... 15:19  |  newageblues 21/05/07
  5.   He should have been executed 15:22  |  Daniel Harvgrave 21/05/07
  6.   At last . . . 15:34  |  Veritas 21/05/07
  7.   Time to open this to the public 15:37  |  Ilan 21/05/07
  8.   Did this ambassador ever take a law course? 15:38  |  J man 21/05/07
  9.   Well, Duh!! 15:40  |  T A Sheppard 21/05/07
  10.   american are spying everywhere 15:40  |  aaa 21/05/07
  11.   Pollard 15:42  |  Harris 21/05/07
  12.   Friends don`t spy on friends 15:52  |  Natallie Durson 21/05/07
  13.   Rubbish 15:54  |  David 21/05/07
  14.   As an American Jew, I am ashamed 15:56  |  Lee 21/05/07
  15.   21 years in jail, an act of clemency ? 16:03  |  freepollard 21/05/07
  16.   Harris (knee jerk jerk) 16:08  |  Natallie Durson 21/05/07
  17.   # 1 Sam Weinstein 16:12  |  Mary 21/05/07
  18.   Am I missing something? 16:14  |  Gene Whitman 21/05/07
  19.   HE WILL BE RELEASED!!! 16:14  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 21/05/07
  20.   Justice, Justice ... 16:17  |  Dovid Kerner 21/05/07
  21.   Wrong Friendship 16:18  |  Mary 21/05/07
  22.   Let Him Rot 16:27  |  Abe 21/05/07
  23.   # 3 Michael 16:29  |  Mary 21/05/07
  24.   He is no hero 16:33  |  Mary 21/05/07
  25.   Spying aginst unfriendly country 16:33  |  Aharon Rosenbaum 21/05/07
  26.   plenty of chinese spies in USA & Canada 16:37  |  topanga 21/05/07
  27.   There`s no denying it....... 16:37  |  Eli 21/05/07
  28.   Rubbish 16:38  |  Al 21/05/07
  29.   Mary in Boston 16:44  |  Netanel 21/05/07
  30.   Blatant USA statement 16:45  |  Esther 21/05/07
  31.   Classic Old Time State Dept. Arabist 16:46  |  Yosemite 21/05/07
  32.   Mary from Boston 16:46  |  Netanel 21/05/07
  33.   But you do T A Sheppard...... 16:50  |  Eli 21/05/07
  34.   US Ambassador please go home 16:55  |  noel 21/05/07
  35.   #27 Excuse me? 16:55  |  T A Sheppard 21/05/07
  36.   Abe #22. 16:59  |  Eli 21/05/07
  37.   Natallie Durson 17:02  |  jerry 21/05/07
  38.   Mary 17:05  |  ernie 21/05/07
  39.   Lee 17:10  |  rich 21/05/07
  40.   Plain and Simple: Jews are not equal before the law. 17:18  |  Mike 21/05/07
  41.   Sweden was selling US military technology to the USSR 17:27  |  Absolute Sweden 21/05/07
  42.   Richard Jones sounds like a great guy 17:29  |  Chick Corea 21/05/07
  43.   Not executing 17:30  |  Brod 21/05/07
  44.   What is especailly heinous to many America 17:42  |  Alan 21/05/07
  45.   Pollard was no angel... 17:47  |  Simcha 21/05/07
  46.   Treason 17:49  |  Gordon 21/05/07
  47.   to #1 Sam Weinstein 17:54  |  harry0 21/05/07
  48.   What would upset you more? 17:55  |  Curious 21/05/07
  49.   Brod #37 I a sure it is also 18:00  |  T A Sheppard 21/05/07
  50.   BUSH HAS THE BLOOD ON HIS HANDS - NOT POLLARD 18:03  |  Simon 21/05/07
  51.   I Wish There Was A Death Sentence For Bad Poetry 18:04  |  Rowan Berkeley 21/05/07
  52.   Sam Weinstein, a typical example of a modern Jew 18:06  |  Mark B. 21/05/07
  53.   No. 35 18:10  |  W 21/05/07
  54.   #38 Alan 18:11  |  Mark B. 21/05/07
  55.   No. 53 I know! 18:20  |  TA Sheppard 21/05/07
  56.   Pollard did not spy "on" America 18:20  |  George 21/05/07
  57.   Shame on the US double standard 18:22  |  Sunny 21/05/07
  58.   isnt there a prisoner exchange program? 18:24  |  yahn goodey 21/05/07
  59.   38 sweden 18:28  |  wh 21/05/07
  60.   illogical! 18:28  |  Jon 21/05/07
  61.   #6 18:36  |  Mark 21/05/07
  62.   POLLARD NEVER HAD A TRIAL (no matter what Jones says) 18:37  |  Rob 21/05/07
  63.   ENOUGH IS ENOUGH 18:46  |  sickened 21/05/07
  64.   richard jones 18:47  |  david sandel 21/05/07
  65.   Pollard should go.. 18:48  |  Lou Medel 21/05/07
  66.   Richard Jones 18:48  |  Steve 21/05/07
  67.   "Ambassador" Jones` insensitive remarks 18:56  |  Imperator 21/05/07
  68.   Thank you Mr. Ambassador 18:57  |  Jimmy 21/05/07
  69.   Still a puzle 19:19  |  misha 21/05/07
  70.   Pollard and the U.S. Government 19:20  |  US Jew 21/05/07
  71.   To George (and others short on facts) 19:25  |  Natallie Durson 21/05/07
  72.   Lee #14 19:34  |  US Jew 21/05/07
  73.   Dear Mr Jones 19:42  |  Kate 21/05/07
  74.   #72 mercy? or to be your puppets? 19:51  |  T A Sheppard 21/05/07
  75.   Free Mordechai Vanunu 20:10  |  Fred Farkelsteinman 21/05/07
  76.   #71 Longer facts 20:15  |  Kate 21/05/07
  77.   Attitude that it is not so bad for Israel to spy on US 20:17  |  Pablo B 21/05/07
  78.   Lee, the converse also applies, and don`t deny it 20:32  |  Jake 21/05/07
  79.   Pollard was never charged with treason 20:33  |  Jake 21/05/07
  80.   Vanunu is free, Frankensteinman 20:40  |  Jake 21/05/07
  81.   Natalie Durson is Lying 20:42  |  Jake 21/05/07
  82.   #74 Sheppard - Get Real!!! 20:49  |  US JEW 21/05/07
  83.   What Trial? 20:57  |  Max Mann 21/05/07
  84.   Pollard will never be realeased 21:13  |  the cohen brother 21/05/07
  85.   About Natallie 21:32  |  Yosemite 21/05/07
  86.   Pollard should not be released ever!!! 21:47  |  Abu Ali 21/05/07
  87.   Punishment He Deserves 21:52  |  Dad