Pollard to be released Nov. 20
Spy must stay in US for five years • Kerry: No link to Iran deal
Convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard will be released from his US prison on November 20 after serving 30 years of a life sentence, the US Parole Commission announced Tuesday.
The commission relayed the decision to Pollard’s lawyers, Elliot Lauer and Jacques Semmelman. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked was also told and broke the news on Twitter.
“I am looking forward to being reunited with my beloved wife, Esther,” Pollard said through his attorneys. “I would like to thank the many thousands of well-wishers in the United States, in Israel, and throughout the world, who provided grassroots support by attending rallies, sending letters, making phone calls to elected officials, and saying prayers for my welfare. I am deeply appreciative of every gesture, large or small.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement Tuesday evening, saying: “After decades of effort, Jonathan Pollard is finally being released from prison. Over the period of his incarceration, I made sure to raise the issue of his release in my meetings and conversations with US officials, and we are waiting to see him out of prison.”
The attorneys have been told that Pollard must remain in the US for five years under the parole ruling, but that President Barack Obama has the power to allow him to move to Israel sooner by commuting his sentence to time served.
“We are grateful and delighted that our client will soon be released,” the lawyers said in an official statement. “The decision to grant parole was made unanimously by the three members of the Parole Commission, who make their decisions independently of any other US government agency. The decision is not
connected to recent developments in the Middle East.”
Had Pollard’s parole been denied, he would have been required to serve an additional 15 years in prison. His parole hearing took place July 7 at the Federal Correctional Center in Butner, North Carolina, where he has been incarcerated. He has been serving a sentence of life in prison for conspiracy to deliver classified information to the State of Israel.
The lawyers wrote that after Pollard’s first parole hearing last July, in which parole was denied, the parole commission had told them that even though a life sentence at the time of Pollard’s sentencing was 45 years, a “record review” would take place to assess whether, in the commission’s discretion, he should be released on parole at the two-thirds mark of the 45-year term on November 21, 2015.
In the review, the commission assessed Pollard’s record in prison, and whether there was a “reasonable probability” that he would commit any further crimes if released. The lawyers submitted documents demonstrating that Pollard has an exemplary prison record, and that there is no possibility that he would commit any further crimes if released.
The lawyers also secured employment and housing for Pollard in the New York area, and made that information available to the commission and the Department of Justice. On July 1, the Department of Justice informed the lawyers that it agreed not to urge denial of parole at the hearing six days later.
“President Obama, who has the constitutional power of executive clemency, has the authority to release Mr. Pollard before November 21, 2015, as well as the authority to allow Mr. Pollard to leave the United States and move to Israel immediately,” the lawyers wrote. “We respectfully urge the president to exercise his clemency power in this manner.”
Shaked expressed hope that Pollard would be allowed to board a plane to Israel as soon as possible. Her fellow Bayit Yehudi minister Uri Ariel, a former head of the Knesset’s Pollard caucus, welcomed the news with a traditional prayer of gratitude.
“After 30 years too many, I bless Jonathan and his family on his upcoming release,” Ariel said. “I am waiting with love for him to land here.”
US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that Pollard’s upcoming release was not tied to the nuclear agreement with Iran.
“I haven’t even had a conversation about it. No, not at all,” Kerry told reporters as he left a House of Representatives committee hearing on the nuclear agreement.
Meanwhile, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish organizations welcomed the news about Pollard as well.
“We have long sought this decision, and we believe this action is long overdue, with Pollard serving a longer sentence than anyone charged with a comparable crime,” the Jewish umbrella group said in a statement. “We do not believe that there is any connection to the nuclear agreement with Iran. The parole date was set at the time of his sentencing, and the current parole process preceded the negotiations with Iran. These are separate and unrelated issues that should not be linked. We are grateful that he will soon have the opportunity to rebuild his life with his wife and address his medical concerns.”
National Council of Young Israel president Farley Weiss, whom Pollard singled out for praise, said he was thankful that the parole board had made the correct decision to officially recommend parole.
“It is very gratifying to hear this whole ordeal will finally be over,” Weiss said. “We appreciate the comments and leadership of Attorney-General Loretta Lynch that ensured that the correct decision was made. We agree that this matter is separate from all other issues that are being discussed.”
Reuters contributed to this report.