Jonathan Pollard
Photo: AP
Netanyahu: I'll discuss Pollard's release with Obama
Prime minister meets with spy's wife ahead of US president's visit, promises to try and promote his early release
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Monday with Esther Pollard, wife of Jonathan Pollard, and said he would bring up her husband's release in his meetings with US President Barack Obama.
Jonathan Pollard, a former Navy intelligence officer, was convicted of espionage in 1987. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and has so far served 29 years of his sentence.
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Pollard's failing health has increased the efforts led by the "Justice for Jonathan Pollard" group to see him released.
"It is time for Jonathan to be released. I will bring this issue up during President Obama's visit," Netanyahu said.
The meeting (Photo: GPO)
Former US Assistant Secretary of Defense Lawrence Korb and Pollard advocate Efi Lahav also attended the meeting.
Since Pollard's conviction, Israel has made considerable efforts to see his sentenced commuted.
In April 2011 President Shimon Peres appealed to his American counterpart to grant the convicted spy a presidential pardon on humanitarian grounds. The request was denied.
In July, then-US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that she did not expect the administration to change its position on the matter.
US administrations over the past 29 years have remained adamant that Pollard will live out his days behind bars.
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