Israeli Shimon Peres to Press Obama on Spy
By The Associated Press - The New York Times - February 26, 2013
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/world/middleeast/shimon-peres-to-press-obama-to-release-jonathan-pollard.html?_r=0

JERUSALEM (AP) — President Shimon Peres of Israel said on Tuesday that he
would lead an effort during President Obama’s coming visit to press for the
release of the convicted spy Jonathan Pollard, ending one of the most
painful episodes between the two allies.

Mr. Pollard was sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for passing classified
material to Israel. He is said to be in poor health, and his case has become
a rallying cry in Israel.

But stiff opposition from the American military and intelligence community
has deterred a string of American presidents from releasing him.

More than 65,000 Israelis have signed a petition calling on Mr. Obama to
free Mr. Pollard, the Facebook page of the United States Embassy in Israel
has been flooded with pardon requests, and a nationwide campaign began
urging Mr. Peres to push for Mr. Pollard’s release.

Mr. Peres said he would raise the issue in a meeting with Mr. Obama, calling
for Mr. Pollard’s release “on humanitarian grounds.”