MK: It’s an insult to link potential Pollard release to Iran deal

Obama administration officials hinted late last week that they will release Jonathan Pollard, who was convicted in 1987 of spying for Israel, when he becomes eligible for parole in November. But both Israeli and American sources on Sunday denied that the reported move — which has not been officially confirmed — is being considered in an attempt to assuage Israeli anger over the recent Iran nuclear deal, as reported in the Wall Street Journal on Friday.

“After 30 years, Pollard has to be released. That is the maximum period,” MK Nachman Shai, chairman of the Knesset caucus for Pollard’s release, told The Washington Post on Sunday. “No other prisoner has served in a US prison for such a long period for a similar crime.

“They did not treat him well and they took it up to the worst point. So to say that this is a gesture from the American side to soften the Iran deal is an insult — and that is the least I can say,” Shai said.

According to US officials cited in the report, some are pushing for Pollard’s release in a matter of weeks, while others say it could take months.

ABC News’ managing editor tweeted Friday night that US officials had confirmed to ABC that the former US Navy analyst was set to be released in November, when he is eligible for parole.

But in a Channel 2 interview Saturday, his former wife Anne Pollard stressed, “There is no official word that Jonathan is being released on any date… There is no news, no official response on that whatsoever.”

In order for Pollard to be released, a Notice of Action must first be issued — and presumably, it is Pollard’s legal team that would receive it first. According to Eliot Lauer, one of Pollard’s attorneys, no such Notice of Action has been received.

Lauer said the authorities could issue such a notice shortly before Pollard’s release date.

Although Pollard is serving a life sentence under a federal law that allows the possibility of parole, he is the only American citizen who has been sentenced to life in prison for passing classified information to a US ally.

Under his sentence, after 30 years the onus of proof switches from Pollard having to provide the parole board with a sufficient reason to release him, to the US government having to provide the parole board with sufficient reason to keep him imprisoned.

The 61-year-old Pollard is serving a life sentence in a US federal prison for passing classified information to Israel; he was granted citizenship by Israel 20 years ago. The flurry of reports reflects a US government website that lists Pollard’s release date (under ID number 09185-016) as November 21, 2015 — a date that would coincide with the 30th anniversary of his arrest.

Lauer noted that November 21, 2015, has been listed as a release date for Pollard for decades.

The Justice Department said it expected Pollard to serve out a 30-year sentence.

“The Department of Justice has always maintained, and continues to maintain, that Jonathan Pollard should serve his full sentence for the serious crimes he committed, which in this case is a 30-year sentence as mandated by statute,” said spokesman Marc Raimondi.

“Mr. Pollard’s status will be determined by the United States Parole Commission according to standard procedures,” added National Security Council spokesman Alistair Baskey. “There is absolutely zero linkage between Mr. Pollard’s status and foreign-policy considerations.”

Israeli government officials — including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself — activists, and even members of Congress have for decades lobbied successive US administrations for Pollard’s release.

There have been several reports in the US media in recent months alleging that Pollard may be released later this year.

Last week, attorney Lauer told The Times of Israel that he has received no indication of this.

“We have not received any word, and I would expect that either I or my client would be the ones who would be notified,” he said. Lauer is a member of Pollard’s pro bono legal team, and has represented him for over two decades.

The US has at times considered releasing Pollard, but has been met with fierce opposition by some in the CIA, the FBI and the Justice Department. This could again be the case if, indeed, the Obama administration is considering it, but “[Pollard’s] chances at winning freedom are better now than they have ever been,” according to the WSJ report that attributes the belief to unnamed US officials.

There have been multiple false starts and reports over the years indicating that Pollard’s release was imminent. During his farewell visit as president of Israel to Washington DC last year, Shimon Peres pressed President Barack Obama for Pollard’s release.

In August 2014, a request by Pollard for parole was denied, with the officials arguing that releasing Pollard would “constitute contempt for the severity of the offense and promote a lack of respect for the law.”

AP contributed to this report.