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YNET: Thousands rally outside US embassy for Pollard’s release
YNET: Thousands rally outside US embassy for Pollard’s release
For first time, lawmakers from across political spectrum will reportedly =
hold joint protest for release of Israel spy in jail for 29 years.
Gilad Morag – YNET =96 February 23, 2014
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4491495,00.html
Politicians and the Israeli public have gathered outside the US embassy in =
Tel Aviv on Sunday evening to call for the release of convicted American sp=
y =
for Israel Jonathan Pollard.
Thousands of people demonstrated outside the embassy, waving Pollard’s =
picture and shouting: “We want Pollard home!”
Niriya Binyamini, head of Youths for Pollard told Ynet that “We are =
protesting against the US, and calling on them to release Jonathon Pollard. =
Twenty-nine years have passed =96 enough!”
Shay Bechor, a Ramat Gan city council member, also participated in the even=
t =
and said “It is clear Pollard’s sentence is disproportional, and an aspect =
of justice is nowhere to be found. This issue has managed to overcome fault =
lines, both left and right want to see Pollard at home.”
“As a Ramat Gan city council member I will present an order of business =
calling for Pollards’ release so we can see him home by this Passover,” he =
said, adding “Well done to all the Israelis who have come to this event.”
The Jewish American former civilian naval employee has served almost 29 =
years of a 30-year sentence for spying for Israel, and the US has =
consistently rejected all Israeli requests for his release. It is the =
harshest punishment ever handed down to a US citizen caught for spying for =
an American ally. He is due for parole next year.
This will be the first time that lawmakers from both sides of the Israeli =
politicial spectrum will rally together for Pollard, the Israeli media =
reported.
“This has turned into a giant wound in the people’s heart and the Jewish =
nation’s heart,” said senior Labor MK Yehiel Bar at a rally for Pollard las=
t =
month. “Particularly because everyone understands that Jonathan Pollard has =
served time in a disproportional manner, beyond all logic.”
The Jewish American former civilian naval employee has served almost 29 =
years of a 30-year sentence for spying for Israel, and the US has =
consistently rejected all Israeli requests for his release. It is the =
harshest punishment ever handed down to a US citizen caught for spying for =
an American ally. He is due for parole next year.
This will be the first time that lawmakers from both sides of the Israeli =
politicial spectrum will rally together for Pollard, the Israeli media =
reported.
“This has turned into a giant wound in the people’s heart and the Jewish =
nation’s heart,” said senior Labor MK Yehiel Bar at a rally for Pollard las=
t =
month. “Particularly because everyone understands that Jonathan Pollard has =
served time in a disproportional manner, beyond all logic.
Earlier this month, former CIA Director James Woolsey said anti-Semitism =
could be a factor in the US refusal to release Pollard.
Woolsey told Channel 10 television that Americans who spied for other =
countries, including Korea and Greece, were freed after shorter sentences.
“I certainly don’t think that it is universally true, but in the case of =
some American individuals, I think there is anti-Semitism at work here,” =
Woolsey said.
________________________________________
IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis
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