like other spies pollard deserves severe punishment but not more than other spies. he has served at least 10 years more time than others as a warning to jewish americans while moslem gitmo inmates are freed to return to kill to terror--israel encouraging more of the same openly cannot help reair this but is not the cause of it.

You think we'll ever let that SOB out for a "hero's welcome" in Israel? Not a chance.

Jonathan Pollard, is a traitor who betrayed his country America for the benefit of "Israel" ,he should never be released from prison.....Americans should reject 'Israel's" attempt to blackmail them.

Strip him of his citizenship the way the Israeli government does to their Arab residents.

Pollard had the guts to help Israel at his own sacrifice. This writer wants to be the one sacrificing him. Before this writer writes this BS, he should check the facts. Look at the numerous Americans who have reviewed the file (including Rudy Giuliani and Casper Weinberger himself) and have said that Pollard has been grossly mistreated. Look at how Israel has agreed that Pollard was the responsibility of Shimon Peres and Rafi Eitan, one a later President, one a later Cabinet minister, both of whom protected their own derrieres by selling out Pollard. Ten thousand people marched yesterday to obtain the release Gilad Shalit. Yet when it comes to Pollard, everyone is afraid to anger the Americans. Yet the US has never fully explained to anyone what exactly Pollard did. In actuality, he wasn't even convicted of treason, he was charged with espionage. And he agreed to a plea bargain that the US reneged on. While Pollard may be considered a "national hero" to a small group, most Pollard backers recognize that he was done an injustice by both Israel (in not protecting him) and by the US (in keeping him much longer than graver spies). It is not an issue of national heroism. It is an issue of justice. Unfortunately, this writer would rather suck up to the US injustice than stand up for what's right.

Do Israelis have any pride? Based on this author Israelis should gravel at every turn. Http://ralphsrant1.blogspot.com

"Traitor" That means helping an enemy in a time of war. Pollard was charged with ONE count of passing classified material to a NON-ENEMY country. If he damaged US-Israel relations, it's the US's fault for withholding information which they were bound by agreement to share with Israel. Today, a US citizen who spied for China for 10 years was given 3 months in jail. Pollard was and is being punished as a Jew, and only for that reason. Hey Eitan - what did you taken out of Rabin's filing cabinet that night?

Good for you Salma. Let's make sure that all those Muslim traitors who are out to kill innocent Americans are also locked away for life (or executed if they managed to kill people). And all those American Muslims who encourage their fellow Muslims to kill Americans - they are also traitors and must be locked away. They don't just betray America, they betray Islam with their phony calls to kill innocent men, women and children. And of course, let's not forget those seditious Palestinians who kill their own, throw them off of roofs, and blow their knees off. They too are traitors and should sit in Palestinian jails for the rest of their degenerate lives. Or maybe you think that so long as they kill Israeli civilians they are heroes and should be immediately released from prison so they can "resist the occupation" by killing more innocent Israeli civilians?

He collected far more than a combat unit soldier's, what is it now, NIS 500 a month?

He did the crime let him continue doing the time!

Pollard has been eligible for parole for years! The only reason he is still in jail at this point is that he hasn't applied. And he won't apply, because then he would have to admit he did something wrong. He still childishly thinks he didn't.

Facts: Pollard sent Israel information about Israel's enemies, that was gathered by US Intelligence THAT THE US WAS BOUND BY AGREEMENTS TO PASS ON TO ISRAEL, BUT DIDN'T. He embarrassed the US. This is what causes the umbrage. He is now in jail longer than Russian spies convicted of causing the deaths of American spies. The US should be the one feeling embarrassed!

I am not sure if what Israel got from Polard or if Jewish lives were saved because of his actions or not but I am sure he intentions were not meant to harm the US in any way. As a friend and as a powerfull ally of Israel, the United States has failed reapetedly and continuesly to fully back Israel against Arab enemies and now Persian enemies who still seek the destruction and anhialatin of the Jewish state and the Jewish people.

He was caught spying - whether it was for Israel or anyone else - he was paid very well to do it - he's a greedy Idiot that got caught and now he's blaming everyone else. Can't do the time - don't do the crime. Enough with him and his pathetic whinging whiney pleads.

The fact that Mr. Haber refers to Ambassador Oren as an American and not as an Israeli is highly tribalistic and insulting.

Strap his ass to a cruise missile and send it to Mossad headquarters. We can name the missile the Liberty.

Pollard is too important to US as pressure on Israel to be released. While I agree that using Pollard for purposes of internal Israeli politics is reprehensible, his prominence or popularity in Israel has nothing to do with his continuing imprisonment. In fact I wrote an article several days ago in which I discussed the likelihood that Pollard was set up from the beginning to serve as a whip to influence Israel, and to separate US Jewry from Israel. The story begins with the CIA turning Pollard down, then his hire by Naval Intelligence (NI). Co-workers and immediate supervisors at NI were immediately suspicious of him and questioned his behavior. But Pollard remained for years, growing suspicion or not, promoted and finding his security clearance raised. As for Mike Oren, you are likely correct in characterizing him as a typical American Jew. I worked in the Jewish community during the Pollard Affair and was told, shah, shtil: there is a secret move to free Pollard. Fear was everywhere that we were under attack and, like in the shtetl during a pogrom, better to hide quietly in the dark. We were in denial then, and Mike is still in denial. I make what I consider a pretty good case that Pollard was a setup in my article. If interested you can read it at, http://thepollardaffair.blogspot.com/2010/06/weinberger-pollard-and-question-of.html

Is What Happened To Those Secrets After Pollard Stole Them. You see, after Pollard gave those secrets to Israel, they were traded by the Israeli government to the government of the USSR. That is where the real damage to US national security interests occurred. What is happening to Pollard is a direct result of that betrayal by the Israel government. Pollard is paying the price for two crimes. He's lucky the CIA ahsn't poisoned him in prison by now.

How would Israeli's react if the world recognized Vanunu as a hero for disclosing Israel's alleged nuclear arsenal and gave him global citizenship per say? The bottom line is that he passed on classified info and was nabbed and should pay the maximum price. If Israel would downplay the significant of his actions maybe the American government would do so as well, however to make him a national hero say's enough about respecting your closest friend who has used it's veto to prevent you from becoming a South Africa. The average American doesn't know or care about Pollard maybe Israel shouldn't care as well. wink wink.

for Pollard!

I don't know if Pollard should be released or not. If he is released, I won't lose a minute of sleep over it. But I am rather amazed at the approach being taken. This is something that calls for a low-key approach by Israel. Behind the scenes. For example, think of it this way. We have an American citizen convicted of spying, passing on highly classified information for money. Sentenced, fairly or unfairly, to a life sentence. So how does Israel react to an American man convicted of spying against America? By granting him Israeli citizenship. Unbelievable. Just freaking unbelievable. Who were the geniuses in Israel who came up with that idea? What did they think the reaction would be? Did they really think that would help? Anyway, the article is about tactics. The author said Pollard has already served "...plenty of time based on any criteria." Got it? Some of you either didn't read the article or are semi-literate.

To date the total monies paid to Mr. Pollard is exact - Zero. Not a single shekel has been spent by the government to him or for him.

That was an invention by Robert Hanssen. Because he was the one that gave that data to Soviets. Not a single bit of intelligence was ever passed to the Soviets by Israel. They were our enemy you moron.

Get them there are many, and exchange them against Pollard, or tell Obama : "We won't talk to your so called palestinians untill Pollard is free." As for the journalists, he is an ungateful leftist, jealous of a real Jewish hero who put his life on the line to give very important secrets to Israel.

Pollard affair caused Israel incalculable harm with its one true, long term ally. Your analysis of Pollard's right-wing nut supporters and their cynicism is particularly telling.

Fatso Pollard should remain in jail for at least the 30 years since he broke his plea bargain (not the other way around) and due to the damage he did to US security. He should also have his food ration reduced. Many posters above provided false information - do some of you just make this stuff up? Israel should issue a formal apology, return all the US documents provided by Pollard and never returned, and stop making this pig an anti-semitism pin up. The whole Pollard affair vis-a-vis Israel illuminates the corrosive and corrupting influence Israel has on US politics and our national interest. We'll take care of our own traitors, no demands needed from you. Does anybody remember those other Jew-sader spies the Rosenbergs and what happened to them?

The post ww2 era has been times of very cruel and barbaric wars some proxy superpower contests some innate to human barbarism. The soviet invasion of afghanistan and the usa support for the islamic zealots was particularly ugly and israel was bouncing. Pollard got involved as was hit.

Don't make me laugh!!! The FBI glommed on to him because he was living a life style that was way above his salary!!!! I think they even noted his weight gain from all that restaurant food, but I would have to double check that.

Look, we nabbed this weasel playing the rat with his country, and we alone shall decide his punishment, and ultimate fate. Let me be perfectly honest with you in this matter: no one in the US gives a flying damn as to Israeli thoughts about Pollard. Concern yourselves with Shalit, for Pollard is our call to make, and you will abide by our decision. Move on!

Shalom, while reading towards the end of the article I thought I need glasses when I noticed you wrote "erection" instead of "election": "However, around here, our national erection works overtime, and Oren was reprimanded by his masters, an Israeli government that is still willing to return Hebron to the Palestinians in exchange for Pollard’s release." I would think you guys have some editing services. I would be happy to offer some help. Phyllis Avni