US will not release Pollard 'at this point'

But Israelis believe American position on jailed spy may be softening

The Obama administration has said “no” to releasing Jonathan Pollard from prison. The decision is final “at this point,” according to Israeli sources.

Israel will not tell the US when to release Pollard, Israel Radio quoted US officials as saying Tuesday. However, Israeli sources believe that the US position may be softening, and that perhaps Pollard may be released closer to President Shimon Peres’s scheduled US visit this summer.

Some Israeli commentators believe that a letter sent by Peres to the Obama administration regarding Pollard’s release this week was “too much,” and that it made it more difficult for the US president to accommodate his Israeli counterpart’s wishes.

Pollard was discharged from the North Carolina hospital to which he was medically evacuated on April 4, and he is now undergoing treatment in a prison clinic. He is reportedly suffering from dizziness and drastic weight loss.

Pollard was convicted of spying on the US for Israel. Several Democratic and Republican administrations have repeatedly rejected Israeli appeals for his release.

Israel claims that Pollard does not pose a national security threat to the US, and that he should be released on humanitarian grounds because of his failing health.