Netanyahu: Pollard was an Israeli spy, Oren must clarify remarks
In radio interview, Michael Oren apparently contradicts Netanyahu's admission that Israel stole U.S. secrets as part of officially sanctioned operation.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel news Jonathan Pollard Michael Oren
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Jonathan Pollard speaking during a 1998 interview. |
| Photo by: AP |
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that convicted spy Jonathan Pollard was working for the Israeli government, after Israel's Ambassador to the United States apparently contradicted the official state position, Army Radio reported.
After being pressed on whether Israel gathers intelligence on its American ally, Ambassador Michael Oren said in an interview on a Washington radio station that Pollard was working for a rogue intelligence agency.
"Israel does not, does not, I stress, collect information on the United States," Oren said.
Pollard, a former civilian intelligence analyst, was sentenced to life in prison in 1987 on charges of spying on the U.S.
Officials from the Prime Minister's office said that Netanyahu asked Oren to publish an official clarification of his remarks.
Ambassador Oren issued a statement in response saying that in responding to a journalist’s question, he attempted to emphasize that the Pollard incident occurred over 25 years ago by a unit that no longer exists, for which Israel took full responsibility.
He added that Pollard worked for and on behalf of Israel, and that he hopes for his earliest release.
When the interviewer from WTOP radio asked on Tuesday morning about the Pollard case, Oren responded: "Jonathan Pollard occurred in the mid-1980s. Now, we're talking about an event that was run by a rogue organization in the Israeli intelligence community. That was, what, 25 years ago?"
For years after Pollard's captured, Israel insisted he was a rogue agent - but in 1998, during his firts term as prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu admitted that the agent was part of an officially sanctioned operation.
In 2007, as leader of the opposition, Netanyahu visited Pollard in prison and vowed that if he returned to power, he would work for the spy's release.
But on Monday Oren appeared to revert to Israel's original position, although the envoy said that in the radio interview that Israel "would certainly welcome his release".
The U.S. has refused to release Pollard, despite close ties with Israel and repeated requests for clemency from Israeli officials.
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Personally, I was shocked by the news reports of the flotilla. I immediately thought it was a black-flag Iranian operation. I couldn't believe it was sanctioned by Israel just because there were THOUSANDS of alternatives that would have benefited Israel instead of sending into an isolation abyss. Anyway, my conspiracy theory is loose, and even I don't firmly believe it, but who is to say that the CIA wasn't involved in making sure the Flotilla raid occurred? It provides political space for America to distance itself from Israeli policies. Indeed, it even created a situation where the blockade was untenable -- giving America the leigh way to speak against it. I think the CIA is involved in covert efforts to slowly weaken the relationship between the US and Israel. Why else were the top IDF military officials not listened to? Why would such a smart country act so stupid? It just seems so fishy...
"Israel does not, does not, I stress, collect information on the United States," Oren said. And the Sun does not, does not, I stress rise from the east. And all the spies even the ones currently under investigation are just not spies, not spies, I stress. And even if the Israeli Government confessed, confessed, I stress, it does not mean a thing . And even if the traitor confessed, confessed, I stress, we can spin it too. A rogue friend (and state) by any standard... made more so by the ridiculous statements of its Ambassador!
Actually, Israel admitted that Pollard was a spy for an Israeli agency, known as the Israeli Bureau for Scientific Relations (Lekem). But that agency had no business spying. The spying itself was a "rogue operation". This job is normally done by Mossad. Lekem was disbanded as a result of the Pollard affair. It is good that this article does not come under an author's name because it is a shameful misrepresentation.
What does it matter - he has served a long sentance. He should be released. A lot worse has happened with lessor punishment. This is now just vindictive.
He has gotten off easy compared to others who have committed the same acts of espionage against their own country.
Get your facts straight. He was convicted of passing on classified information to an ally. A charge must less severe then treason and a charge that carries a recommended sentence of 10 years. He has now been in prison for 23 years. Free Jon P now.
Ally or not, that sounds to me like treason. If the charge was any less, it was a diplomatic favor to Israel. My point stands: he got off easy. Does anyone disagree? I hope not. It shows Israeli strength in American politics, why would you not be proud of that?
1) Jonathan Pollard's actions...however well-meaning...were a betrayal of his country and his oath of office. The fact that the info was passed to an "ally" is irrelevant. 2) The fact that others who committed similar offenses received lesser punishment tells me that their sentences were too short...and not that Pollard's is too long.
As an American, I think it is a national disgrace that Pollard is kept imprisoned as an example to keep Israel from "spying" on the US. Does anyone really believe the US doesn't spy on Israel? Let's face it: In today's world, everyone spies on EVERYONE, friend or foe. Human lives are too precious to be used to illustrate a point. Pollard should be freed unless the US starts jailing every spy it discovers - and that very notion is laughable. Let's not forget he only provided information already promised to Israel, but withheld in "punishment" (!) for the raid on Osirek. I doubt the second Bush administration regretted Israel's decision to stop Saddam from acquiring nuclear weapons. That makes this even more ridiculous.
it's not about an israeli national spying on the us, its about a citizen passing along state secrets to another country.
Americans have taken off their blinders and don't like the Israel they see. Netanyahu doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of getting Pollard released or improving relations with the US.
In the 1960s, John Hadden, the CIA station shief in Israel, was well known for his position and tried on numerous occasions to infiltrate Israeli military installations. One time, he was caught trying to photograph a sensitive installation, his camera was confiscated and he was sent back to the US, unarrested. Perhaps, the next US spy we catch will get the same sentence as Pollard.
or has Vannunu made that possibilty moot? After all he was kidnaped and brought back illegally and released and incarcerated at will. Some democracy!
No, Pollard is not an Israeli spy...yes he is...no he's not. I'm at the point where whatever the "official line" is about Pollard...I can't believe it.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised. After all, he is a politician.
Israel’s ambassador to the US demonstrates his American galut roots in distancing himself from the charge of “dual loyalty.” In the 1990’s Pollard’s actions on behalf of Israel was felt a threat, an embarrassment to most American Jews, raised again fears of antisemitism we in America also experienced before, during and following the Holocaust. And now Mike Oren, Israel’s face in the United States, displays his own insecure Diaspora psyche, and in the American press? Is a galut Jew, even one with impeccable American diction, really what Israel wants as its representative to the US, particularly at a time of such sensitivity between the two governments?
He aslo stated that the death of Rachel Corrie was and accident on Fox and friends when rhe Fox commentater Didn't even know her name. Amazing low class by Fox, But what else is new.
Google " Michael Oren " to read his comments defending the Israeli attack on the U.S.S. Liberty. What is telling about Michael Oren is that last year he was finally forced to choose sides. American-born Michael Oren renounced his U.S. citizenship in order to become an Israeli and serve (ironically) as Israel's Ambassador the United States.. I suppose we could look on the bright side and realize that he's now officially working for the Israeli government, and not working inside the U.S. government like Michael Pollard.
There have been lots of lies concerning Pollards spy scandal. Ron Olive, an American agent who was in charge of the case, and Seymour Hersh, a well known investigative reporter have written truthfully and factually about the story. They had no incentive to lie. Israeli officials, Israeli right wingers, and Pollard and his wife had a lot of motivation to lie and fashion Pollard into an Israeli hero. Their reasons for doing this are self serving. They also universally condemn, for obvious reasons, Olive and Hersh. Rafi Eitan was the Israeli spymaster in charge of Pollards activity. He was very well known in Israeli intelligence and was an Israeli politician long after the Pollard affair ended. The organization he headed was sanctioned by Israel. The agents were paid by Israel. Israel used the intelligence provided by Eitans group. There was a time, before Israel officially took responsibility for Pollards spying that Israel tried to play it off as a "rogue operation". Oren is citing this old, outdated, and patently false claim. He needs to get himself up to date.
Please read Admiral Sumner Shapiro's Z"L wiki article about Pollard: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumner_Shapiro Pollard's a fool not worth your sympathy.
Rogue Israeli diplomats? Oren you fit the bill for the last two and give cover for the first.
The US gives Israel 10 billion dollars in aid every year from our hard earned tax money and you spy on us! People hate us because of our support to you.
The U.S. gives billions of dollars of aid to many countries that are infested with CIA agents. So are you saying that it's okay for the US to spy upon countries they give aid to, but it's not okay for countries that receive aid to spy on the US? peoplel
I think that perhaps you don't understand American politics very well and how it is perceived by those abroad. To say that the world hates the U.S. because of it's support of Israel is ridiculous. Many abroad hate the U.S. because of their role as world police, dictating their morals and ethics as though they are the most supreme. The U.S. has their nose in everyones business, and that is why the rest of the world hates us. I'm not saying that I necessarily disagree with all that the U.S, does in regards to international relations, but your ignoring the real reason for our hatred abroad and blaming it on Israel. You clearly don't travel outside the U.S. very often, if you had and simply spoke to people abroad, this would have been cleared up very easily.
The U.S. LOANS Israel 3 Billion in aid, of which 90% is spent in the US; thus creating many jobs and income for US citizens. Get your facts right. Israel is one of the few countries that pays America back every cent - with Interest. Polard was not spying on the US - he was supplying Israel with in on the Arab world tat the US would not share with Israel.
ten billion? it is 3.5, much of it contingent on Israel buying arms and products from US companies. American promotes its diplomatic and self interest by giving aid to Israel. That said, Pollard committed espionage against the US and deserves punishment for that crime.
It is really unimaginable,i rather believe what Oren said now if Netanyhu said other.
what is the difference? All Israeli agents are roque agents sent out to do extrajudicial executions, spy on Israel's allies, copy passports etc etc
Pollard is a US citizen...he got caught and has to do his time...That is the risk he took...
When was the last time you heard of a spy being caught, convicted in a court of law, and jailed for spying in place of a foreign country? When that happens, and when it happens lawfully, then Israel will have something to lawfully trade!
rogue intelligence agency??? What is that? And Americans are stupid to buy that story?
I'd suggest that this is an odd excuse from a historian: "That was, what, 25 years ago?"
...behind this (if there was any, of course)--but it occurs to me that if the former Israeli government was NOT the official motivator of Mr. Pollard's activities, then the current Israeli government could arguably make a case (should it choose to do so) that any "moral obligation" on the government's part to secure his release--was thereby significantly reduced (or even eliminated)--should they choose to do so, that is.
we've all woken up to israels tactics.
No need to release him at all, then. And the people who ran him violated Israeli law. So maybe Israel can turn them over to the US for punishment. After all, they broke both our countries' laws. Excellent, Mr. Oren. Excellent.
Did Israel give clemency to Mordechai Vanunu? I think not...
"Israel does not, does not, I stress, collect information on the United States," A likely winner in Guinness's category of the funniest statement ever made by an ambassador.