After nearly 20 years, a woman has been released from her status as an agunah (chained woman) by Israel's most persistent get (Jewish divorce) refuser. In 2002, the woman requested a divorce in the United States, where they were living at the time, but her spouse refused. Later, when they were in Israel, the woman filed for divorce in the rabbinical court, and a travel ban was issued against him. Due to his refusal to grant the get, the man served a seven-year prison sentence. About two years ago, he was convicted again and sentenced to 18 months in prison. After his appeal was rejected, his defense attorney reached an arrangement whereby the man would grant his wife a get, subject to receiving a pardon from the President of Israel and being released from prison.