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Jonathan Pollard’s Birthday Present

Sheldon Adelson to push for Pollard’s release, other things

By Adam Chandler|August 7, 2012 4:04 PM|12comments
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Jonathan Pollard turns 58 today, although he’s spent the last 25 years celebrating his birthdays in prison, having received a life sentence for spying against the United States. Each year, a crush of politicians–mainly Israeli, but sometimes American–as well as a melange of donors and lobbyists approach the President of the United States and ask for Pollard to be released. To date, the calls for clemency have not rendered any real results.

However, Jonathan Pollard has some powerful champions. This year, Sheldon Adelson, who can’t seem to stay out of the news, after footing some serious political tabs this year may be finally attempting to collect. Eli Lake and Dan Ephron are reporting that, according to sources, Adelson is likely to press Governor Romney to come out in support of releasing Pollard. According to the article, so far Romney has punted, explaining that without access to classified material on Pollard’s case, he can’t make the call yet. Here’s what else Adelson may want:

The issue is apparently one of a handful where Romney differs from Adelson on Israel. The billionaire has also asked Romney to state publicly that Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are a waste of time because the Palestinians are unwilling to make peace, according to the sources—and he wants a firmer commitment from Romney to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, in what would be a de facto recognition of Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem. For his part, Romney has not said peace talks are a waste of time and has gone only partway on the embassy question, saying he would undertake the move in consultation with the Israeli government—a campaign promise other presidents have made. (Adelson has pressed Romney to pledge to move the embassy without consulting the Israeli government.)

Ron Reese, an Adelson spokesman said that Adelson has no policy expectations from Romney in exchange for his support. “He hopes to be invited to the Chanukah party at the White House,” Reese said.

For a deeper look at Pollard’s case, check out Gil Troy’s prescient piece from 2010 in which he envisioned broader support among American Jews for Pollard’s release.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-Stein/1270575056 Michael Stein

    No mercy for traitors.

  • Umish Katani

    Keep the bastard in jail… He did it for the money…… not for Israel.. Traitor

  • http://www.facebook.com/jacob.arnon.7 Jacob Arnon

    Yes, he is a bastard and a traitor and he did it for the money.

    Still, he has served long enough. Even bastards deserve mercy.

    Any one can have mercy for a friend. It takes a mentsch to have mercy on a despicable person.

  • Jason Methner

    R to N = Pizzle!

  • AriShavit

    is there an actual argument for letting him out? I have yet to hear a good one …

  • mouskatel

    Aldrich Ames and numerous other spies who did far worse damage to the US by spying for American enemies got much lighter sentences. This sentence was the result of a Caspar Weinberger’s personal anti-Semitism, nothing more nothing less.

  • http://www.vivificat.org/ Teófilo de Jesús

    Aldrich Ames received life in prison. How is that lighter than Pollard’s own?

  • http://www.facebook.com/shmuel.goldsmith Shmuel Goldsmith

    Here in the U.S., the Constitution defines what constitutes “treason” (Article III, Section 3): “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War
    against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and
    Comfort.”

    Espionage and treason are non synonymous.

  • brynababy

    You are correct I believe, however, I understand there were several contemporary spies who did receive much lighter sentences and that has been the basis for anyone who has asked for Pollard’s release.

  • http://twitter.com/dennybooboo Denis Gray

    Pollard is serving a sentence he deserves. He betrayed his country. His allegiance to a foreign power preference to his own was a decision he made. There is not a trace of altruism here.Read the files on Pollard and his wife.Their purpose was hostile to American security intyerests. They were paid for their efforts and upon arrest displayed an attitude fraught with confirmed arrogance.
    I am appalled that Israelis and their government officials have the unmitigated gall to even bring up the subject. Israel’s own attitude towards those who would spy for a foreign government mirrors my own toward the loathsome Mr. Pollard.

  • http://twitter.com/dennybooboo Denis Gray

    Pollard is serving a sentence he deserves. He betrayed his country. His allegiance to a foreign power preference to his own was a decision he made. There is not a trace of altruism here.Read the files on Pollard and his wife.Their purpose was hostile to American security intyerests. They were paid for their efforts and upon arrest displayed an attitude fraught with confirmed arrogance.
    I am appalled that Israelis and their government officials have the unmitigated gall to even bring up the subject. Israel’s own attitude towards those who would spy for a foreign government mirrors my own toward the loathsome Mr. Pollard.

  • http://twitter.com/dennybooboo Denis Gray

    .Can you imagine the State of Israel taking a benevolent view towards a Jewish Israeli who would have done for the US or any other foreign state what Pollard did for Israel? Treachery is loathsome and so are those who do the deeds.
    Pollard’s perfidy raises the question of where the true allegiance of American jews lies.He has become an undeserved albatross around Jewish necks.

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Jonathan Pollard’s Birthday Present

Sheldon Adelson to push for Pollard’s release, other things

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