Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Jonathan Pollard
Photo: AP
Rabbi Yosef calls on Obama to free Pollard
Yishai asks US ambassador to pass on message from Shas spiritual leader stating convicted spy's medical situation 'life threatening'
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef called on US President Barack Obama to pardon Jonathan Pollard, who is serving a life sentence for spying for Israel.
During a meeting with Richard Jones on Thursday, Shas Chairman Eli Yishai asked the American ambassador to relay a message from Rabbi Yosef to Obama which states that Pollard's medical situation was "life threatening" and necessitates shortening his sentence.
Rabbi Yosef is the Shas party's spiritual leader.
Earlier this week, former US Secretary of State George Schultz wrote Obama a letter asking him to release Pollard.
The letter, delivered Tuesday, said that Pollard has "now paid a huge price for his espionage on behalf of Israel and should be released from prison."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently sent Obama a personal letter in which he officially requested that Pollard be freed.
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