Ahead of Peres-Obama meeting, US says stance on Pollard remains unchanged
White House spokesman says jailed spy was convicted of ‘very serious crimes;’ Committee to Bring Jonathan Pollard Home undaunted by diminished prospects
Demonstrators hold signs calling for the release of Jonathan Pollard during a demonstration in 2012 (photo credit: Miriam Alster/Flash90)
Only hours before an anticipated meeting between President Shimon Peres and US President Barack Obama, the White House on Wednesday poured cold water on Israeli hopes that the US would grant clemency to jailed spy Jonathan Pollard.
Speaking to journalists at the daily White House briefing, Press Secretary Jay Carney said that the severity of Pollard’s crimes precluded an early release.
President Barack Obama talks with Press Secretary Jay Carney in the Oval Office (photo credit: White House Photo Stream, Flickr)
“Our position has not changed and will not change today,” Carney told journalists. “I would simply remind you that Mr. Pollard was convicted of very serious crimes.”
Over the past few months, Israelis have been stepping up the pressure on Peres to use the occasion to push for an early release for Pollard, who was convicted of espionage in 1986 and sentenced to life in prison.
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Over 70,000 Israelis signed a recent online petition to that effect.
The Committee to Bring Jonathan Pollard Home remained undaunted by the White House statement. “We hope President Obama will consider Peres’s personal, humanitarian request and reply in the affirmative,” the group said Wednesday night in a statement.
Asher Zeiger contributed to this report.
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