Four Dems urge Pollard clemency
September 23, 2010
www.jta.org/news/article/2010/09/23/2741029/four-dems-urge-pollard-clemency

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- -- Four Democrats in Congress are urging President Obama
to release Jonathan Pollard as a means of advancing the Israeli-Palestinian
peace process.

A letter circulating among other members of the U.S. House of
Representatives and initiated by Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Edolphus
Towns (D-N.Y.), Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) and Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) "notes
the positive impact that a grant of clemency would have in Israel, as a
strong indication of the goodwill of our nation towards Israel and the
Israeli people," said a statement issued Thursday by Frank's office. "This
would be particularly helpful at a time when the Israeli nation faces
difficult decisions in its long-standing effort to secure peace with its
neighbors."

Pollard has been serving a life sentence since 1986 for spying for Israel
while he was a Navy analyst.

Israeli newspapers reported last week that Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu's government was seeking Pollard's release as a means of placating
settlers and other hawks should Netanyahu extend a ten month partial
settlement freeze beyond its expiry next week.

The Palestinian Authority and the Obama administration have been urging such
an extension. Settler leaders have acknowledged that Pollard's release would
substantially impede an effort to rally against a further freeze.

Netanyahu attempted to extract Pollard's release in 1998, during his
previous stint as prime minister, but was rebuffed by the Clinton
administration.

U.S. intelligence officials have said Pollard's espionage was too vast to
merit clemency, and that he should not be released before 2015, when his
life sentence is first subject to review under sentencing guidelines in
place at the time of his conviction.

Frank's statement said the letter would not challenge Pollard's guilt, but
would argue that his life sentence is not commensurate with those handed
down to spies who have committed similar offenses.

The letter would circulate until mid-October, when it will be sent to the
president, the statement said.