Israeli spy Pollard to be paroled in November
July 28, 2015
US Parole Commission has ruled that Pollard would be released from prison on November 21, exactly three decades after his arrest, Pollard's attorneys announced Tuesday.
"We look forward to seeing our client on the outside in less than four months," Pollard's representatives, Eliot Lauer and Jacques Semmelman, said in a joint statement.
The US Justice Department did not oppose Pollard's parole bid on a hearing earlier this month, according to his lawyers.
Pollard, who is now 60 years old, was arrested outside the Israeli embassy in Washington in 1985. In a widely publicized case, both Pollard and his wife then pleaded guilty on charges of spying for Israel. His wife was sentenced to three years, while Pollard was convicted to life in prison – the only American ever to receive such a sentence for passing classified information to a US ally.
Pollard received Israeli citizenship during his sentence.
Kerry: no Iran connection
Many observers claimed that the ex-military analyst was punished too harshly, considering that Israel already had access to much of the intelligence provided by Pollard.
The navy officer has remained behind bars for three decades, despite the efforts of several successive Israeli governments who were trying to secure his release. However, the US officials used Pollard's case as leverage on several occasions, including Israel-Palestinian talks last year.
Some recent reports have speculated that the parole decision could be used to mollify Tel Aviv amid tensions over the recent Iran nuclear deal. Both US and Israeli authorities have rejected such claims.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that Pollard's case was "not at all" related to the Iran issue.
"I haven't even had a conversation about it," Kerry told reporters on Tuesday.
Obama to decide if Pollard stays
Pollard's lawyers said that the 60-year old was "looking forward to being reunited with his beloved wife Esther," who moved to Israel after serving his sentence.
Parole conditions demand that Pollard stays in the US for five years after leaving prison. Still, US President Obama could waive that requirement, according to Pollard's attorneys.
dj/kms (AFP, dpa, Reuters, AP)