Four U.S. lawmakers have initiated a letter urging President Obama to release Jonathan Pollard as a means of advancing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The letter by Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) and Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), which is circulating in the House of Representatives, “notes the positive impact that a grant of clemency would have in Israel, as a strong indication of the goodwill of our nation towards Israel and the Israeli people,” according to a statement issued Sept. 23 by Frank’s office. “This would be particularly helpful at a time when the Israeli nation faces difficult decisions in its long-standing effort to secure peace with its neighbors.”
Pollard has been serving a life sentence since 1986 for spying for Israel while he was a U.S. Navy analyst.
Israeli newspapers reported last week that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government was seeking Pollard’s release as a means of placating settlers and other hawks.
Netanyahu attempted to extract Pollard’s release in 1998, during his previous stint as prime minister, but was rebuffed by the Clinton administration.
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