Jonathan Pollard has “urgent” surgery

Convicted spy for Israel Jonathan Pollard was taken to a civilian hospital to undergo surgery.

Pollard has been in poor health, including deterioration in his kidney problems. His wife, Esther, had come from Israel to North Carolina to visit him before what has been described as “urgent” surgery.

Pollard was removed from the prison Tuesday for the surgery, according to Israeli news sites. The federal prison in North Carolina would not confirm that Pollard had been taken to a hospital. 

Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren visited Pollard in prison last week. Pollard called on Oren to seek his release from President Obama.

Pollard was not allowed to visit his father on his death bed or to attend his father’s funeral earlier this summer, despite appeals from Israeli officials and supporters.

Pollard was arrested in 1985 and is serving a life sentence.