Wife of Jonathan Pollard makes first statement after news of his release
In a first reaction to the release of her jailed husband Jonathan Pollard, a former civilian US Navy contractor who has served 30 years in US federal prison for spying for Israel, Esther Pollard said, "Jonathan will have served his punishment until the last moment this coming November, and I am excited and full of thanks and happiness that our experience and our nightmare is over," a teary-eyed Esther said. "I am counting the days and the hours and the minutes and seconds until I can hug him until we can close the door of horror and open the new door and rebuild our lives, in moments like this I feel so grateful to so many people who helped us and supported us all along this difficult path, I am afraid that if I begin to name people we wont end for a long time, I hope that in the future I can thank all of your personally," she said.
"I know that many people feel relief and happiness now and want to partake in our happiness and I thank everyone, but with that I hope everyone knows we need our quiet and privacy, so we can restart our new lives together, I am sure that everyone knows this in the media and the public, and I trust you," she concluded.
