Jonathan Pollard begins 29th year in US prison

Consecutive American presidents refuse to release former US Navy intelligence analyst who spied for Israel

By JTA 23 November 2013, 8:32 am

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Jonathan Pollard speaks during an interview at the Butner Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC, May 1998. (AP/Karl DeBlaker/File)

Convicted American spy for Israel Jonathan Pollard entered the 29th year of a life sentence.

Thursday marked the 28th anniversary of Pollard’s arrest outside of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday, Pollard’s wife, Esther, called on President Obama to commute her husband’s sentence to time served and release him from prison.

Earlier this week, Esther Pollard chastised Israeli President Shimon Peres for saying that Obama has responded favorably to all Israeli requests. Last year, Peres formally asked Obama to commute Pollard’s sentence.

Pollard, a civilian US Navy intelligence analyst who spied for Israel, was sentenced to life in prison in 1987, despite a plea bargain in which he admitted his guilt. Several Israeli leaders and an increasing number of US political figures from both parties have made requests that the United States pardon Pollard.