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Thousands rally outside US embassy for Pollard's release
Gilad Morag
Published: 23.02.14, 14:15
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1. What spectrum of Israel cares about US criminals?
Miron ,   USA   (02.23.14)
Sure, he may be serving longer than others... but I didn't see you picketing for others? So, what is it about one particular criminal that makes such a difference? He is Jewish? Are you nuts?
2. Pollard
Rafi ,   Merkaz, Israel   (02.23.14)
He's an American traitor. He betrayed his own country. We don't need him here. The US should treat him the same as we treat Vanunu.
3. Israeli Government Doesn't Want Pollard Freed
World Citizen ,   the world   (02.23.14)
Pollard might spill his guts about Israeli spying in the USA. My guess is he'll have an "accident" shortly after his release.
4. Pollard's imprisonment is approaching its end. So why all
israel   (02.23.14)
the hullaballoo now ? True he spied but it brought no harm to the U.S. and the length of his incarceration does not fit the crime. Mr. Rafi Eitan you should have opened the door !
5. #2 -- Wrong
Israeli ,   Israel   (02.23.14)
Jonathan was convicted for passing classified information to an allied country -- something NO ONE ELSE has been given a life sentence for. To compare him to Vanunu is ridiculous, this is about justice. So many American officials have agreed that it's too much. It's well past time to let him go, but the least that can be done is to release him now.
6. LOL ! IT'S SUNDAY
(02.23.14)
No one is working there today
7. All the MK's have to do
Sarah B ,   Tel Aviv/London   (02.23.14)
to have Pollard released is to pressure the government to name his handlers. Do that and Pollard can be on a plane to Israel tonight. These MK's know this, what are they attempting to hide?
8. #5 - Wrong
Rafi ,   Merkaz, Israel   (02.23.14)
He was never convicted - he plead guilty. He was in the US Navy (I believe) and he betrayed his country and his oath to serve. A traitor is a traitor. We have enough problems here without his kind.
9. To: No. 8
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (02.23.14)
He was a civilian employee of the United States Navy. Civilian employees do not take oaths of loyalty to the United States, and the fact is that Pollard reached a plea agreement with the United States upon which the United States reneged. I think Israel should tie any further pointless "negotiations" with the "Palestinians" to the immediate pardon of Jonathan Pollard. Put Obama & Co. on the hot seat. Once Pollard is safely home, Israel can renege on its agreement. Hey -- if the United States can do it, why can't Israel? Obama needs to learn that he's a rank amateur.
10. To: No. 6
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (02.23.14)
Au contraire. The United States embassy is in fact open.
11. Leave our American citizens alone
sheik rattle & roll ,   USA   (02.23.14)
He is an American, a country that separates state from religion. Let him do his time and when he is paroled his condition should be that he will remain on probation for life and that he will have no contact with a foreign citizen or government as a condition of his release, We will call it the VANUNU release condition.
12. to Rafi @5
Jennie ,   Israel/US   (02.23.14)
Before passing judgment and having the "chutzpa" to call Pollard a traitor, a person with half a brain, would first goggle his name & learn a fact or two about what really happened in this case...Unless of course you aren't Rafi from the "Merkaz"...
13. Mr Shappiro where are you ?
Roland Seener ,   London England   (02.23.14)
14. Pollard never spied on America, only on Muslim enemies
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (02.23.14)
15. No US traitor, including those with blood on their hands got
tom ,   tel aviv   (02.23.14)
anything approaching Pollard's imprisonment. Shut already up with this "Traitor- got what he deserved" nonsense. He spied for an ally, that by all reasonable (and proven) accounts, was spied upon by all of American administrations. This is stinking to High Heavens, but nobody in Israel had cojones to do anything about it until now: when it's evident, that we're dealing with an openly hostile US Administration! Now we(they) are trying to play "heroes"?!
16. the immediate pardon of Pollard, Sarah?
Cameron ,   USA   (02.23.14)
Lil power plays & setting of terms is not for you in this Pollard sneak matter. Remember, we're not the ones gathered together to fuss and beg at the door. As with the Persian business, we are the final word.
17. To Sarah B and Jennie
Rafi ,   Merkaz, Israel   (02.23.14)
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Deal with your own country (US) and let us deal with ours. I love you armchair QBs telling Israelis what is right - from the safety of the US. I, my wife, and my children did the army, ride the buses, visit the malls. Pollard is an American - not an Israeli. BTW Sarah B., Pollard is home. If I'm not mistaken, he's never even been in Israel. Hope it stays that way.
18. To: No. 11
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (02.23.14)
There is no parole in the federal system, stupid. Quit pontificating on subjects of which you know nothing. Clearly, you are completely ignorant about federal sentencing guidelines. There are sentence reductions under the federal system, but they do not extend to individuals who have life sentences. It would take a presidential pardon to free Jonathan Pollard. I say -- let's see just how badly Obama wants Israel to continue the pointless "negotiations" with the "Palestine" Authority. Or does Obama only pardon convicted black drug dealers? Forty of them, actually, since taking office.
19. #8 - And Anat Kam and Uri Blau???
Cowboy Joe ,   Calgary, Canada   (02.23.14)
20. No release : No peace deal for Kerry
Noodles ,   Coney Island   (02.23.14)
21. CNN, US media, won't report news reflecting badly on Israel
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (02.23.14)
22. What took U so long? Afraid of self-serving USA?
Moshe ,   Usa   (02.23.14)
Afraid of antisemitic USA? Everywhere we go, we encounter antisemitism. We should not ever be afraid of standing up for Jews anywhere !
23. To finally be released at a time of OUR choosing
Cameron ,   USA   (02.23.14)
We make the call the whole way down the line. Stunts like this do not incline us to open the cage any earlier.
24. @ 9 Leave our American prisoner alone
sheik rattle & roll ,   USA   (02.23.14)
Pollard is home and he will stay home and even if he is released his parole conditions will be no contact with a foreign government or citizen, and that is a BIG IF, and if I was a betting man I will have to say he will continue to receive his 3 hots and a cot, courtesy of his fellow "American" citizens.
25. # 5
Mike ,   Tel Aviv   (02.23.14)
Yes, but you conveniently overlook the fact that he tried to sell information to both Pakistan and South Africa first, thereby revealing his ONE AND ONLY motive for his treason on his own country - MONEY. He is not Israeli - just because Netanyahu and co gave him citizenship during his jail time doesn't make him different to any other jailbird serving time there.
26. To: Sara #9
Herr Adolf ,   New York   (02.23.14)
You state that the US reneged on its plea deal with Pollard. For your edification, a judge is not legally bound to accept a deal. So it was an individual judge, not the 'US of A. Casper Weinberger was so incensed by this case, he wanted a stiffer sentence for this piece of excrement. Pollard should have enjoyed the same fate as the Rosenbergs, other Jewish spies of note.....
27. With a sunni commander in chief..
Beary White ,   Norway   (02.23.14)
, Pollard should be happy to leave prison alive and not being tortured to death.. Might be mr sotero wants to have an exchange with 1000 terrorists from Israeli jails, just to have the apartment in S-A secured when finishing his term..... An islamic-cult-follower is never to be trusted..
28. Pollard
DEB ,   Wash DC   (02.23.14)
gets no sympathy fr me. He did the crime, he can do the time.
29. To: No. 26
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (02.23.14)
I am very well aware of what a United States District Court judge can and cannot do. I know he does not have to abide by a plea agreement. Judge Robinson has been the presiding judge in seven espionage trials -- six in addition to Pollard. In those six trials, the defendants spied on behalf of North Korea, China (3) and the Soviet Union (2). Only Pollard received a life sentence. That is disproportionate by any stretch of the imagination. But we know as much about you as we could possibly need to know based on the name by which you choose to identify yourself. Shame on you. Have you forgotten that the United States fought a war to put an end to that which you so clearly espouse?
30. To: No. 28
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (02.23.14)
The issue is the amount of time. The Walker spy ring was arguably the very worst and certainly most damaging spies in the history of the United States. Of the six who were convicted, only Robert Walker remains imprisoned. Is that your idea of justice? It isn't mine.
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