Editor:
Many citizens of Israel feel that the American Jewish Community can help in being the decisive weight needed to end Jonathan Pollard’s outdated prison sentence.
We hope that we will all give our unconditional strength in ending one man’s punishment and prison sentence for a crime for which, we believe, the price has already been paid.Leaving him in jail for yet another day is tantamount to a slow cruel,death beyond the realm of justice.
In the working of the American justice system, all other prison sentences handed out to people who perpetrated similar or worse breaches of national security have ended with all the offenders out of jail in considerably less time than Pollard’s never ending,ongoing prison sentence.
The present American government cannot justify keeping Pollard incarcerated forever,like a living crucifix.
The vast majority of the Obama administration’s predecessors and key figures from the American establishment that spearheaded Pollard’s arrest in 1986, have advocated freeing Pollard. The have said that Pollard has done and paid his time.Jonathan Pollard is a human being and being Jewish we are obligated to stand for equal justice for all human beings especially when their prison sentence is not equal to other offenders of the same, or even worse offences, under the same law.
The whole issue of Pollard is so far past its expiration date it is from another day, another century and era, it is irrelevant and outdated and becoming no more than an unnecessary injustice,and a continual insult,to the very justice system that it represents.For 26 years, Pollard has paid the price. The injustice now is, in his never- ending prison sentence, and what is morally incorrect can never be politically correct.The time has come to stand united behind Pollard’s freedom,more than ever now,in the wake of the approaching elections.
A week after being released from National Military service in Israel, I heard the breaking news in Israel of Pollard’s arrest. Without knowing more than the average citizen at the time,I immediately felt this is not all above board. Pollard was operated 100% by Israel,and the convenience with which Israel sold Pollard down river makes me sick.
For an American Jew, or for any American citizen. what Pollard did is unforgivable. However, as an American Citizen he has paid the price.
My feelings for Pollard are purely out of an unbiased feeling for fair play.
Americans must be kust and treat Pollard for what he is and that is a human being,a citizen of the United states who has commited a crime and has paid for the crime.
Americans should release him,and if not I call upon the United States Jewish Community to take up this issue. It demonstrates a lack of trust towards every Jewish citizen of the U.S.A,and it reeks of Anti Semitosm.
What do I ask the American Jewish citizen to do,if he stands for equal justice for all? The time has come to unite, stand up and say no more.
I believe if the American Jewish community would see Pollard’s continuing punishment for what it is, and everyone would do what they could,and not to put their heads in the sand, it would organise a million-person protest at the capital.
Are we not a people who believes”Save one soul and you save the world?” Beyond these 26 years a continuing, never-ending prison sentence is a continual insult to every American Jew, and a certain part of us all is being held in prison.
“And the people redeemed Jonathan and he did not die.”(1 Samuel 14:45).
–Gideon Ben Yacov
Ra’anana, Israel
Pollard is a traitor and mercenary who sold classified information for his own gain. Don’t believe the f falsehoods in this appeal to your emotions. Pollard deserves no mercy and will serve his sentence.
Thank you for writing this great article to free Jonathan Pollard. I am posting it to twitter!