Posted on 09/06/2004 6:10:12 PM PDT by ElkCounty
The Knesset will be convening a special session, despite the summer recess, to discuss ways to gain the release of Jonathan Pollard.
A special mid-summer recess Knesset session next week will be highlighted by a discussion of ways in which the release of Jonathan Pollard might be attained.
Jonathan Pollard is serving a life sentence without possibility of parole in a US prison for passing classified information to a US ally. The data in question included information about Iraq's offensive weapons capabilities. Pollard is the only person in the history of the United States to receive a life sentence for spying for an American ally. Despite the fact that the median sentence for this offence is 2 to 4 years, Pollard is well into his 19th year of his life sentence.
Pro-Pollard activists spent the past week bombarding Knesset Members of all parties with phone calls requesting their support for a special Knesset session on Pollard. The required 25 signatures were attained, in an effort spearheaded by MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union), and the mid-recess session is scheduled for next week. More issues have since been added to the day's agenda.
A group of new immigrants from North America, together with Israeli high school students, began a ten-day hunger strike on Pollard's behalf on Wednesday. Coordinators of the initiative, including Youth for Jonathan Pollard, Magshimei Herut and the Re'ut (Friendship) Movement, hope it will spread to high schools, army bases, yeshivot (talmudic academies) and seminaries across Israel.
From 5 PM to 8 PM on each day of the strike, pro-Pollard activists intend to hold protests outside the Knesset in Jerusalem. Rabbis, professors and Knesset Members will take part in the demonstrations.
Pollard activist Eli Yosef explained why the coalition of students and veteran activists decided that now was the time for a coordinated effort on Pollard's behalf: "The Hebrew month of Elul is one of repentance, and so we as a nation must make amends for the way we have neglected Jonathan Pollard in prison. This is the 19th year that Jonathan will spend Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot alone in a cell instead of with his people."
Yosef believes that both the social and security problems in Israel today stem from the failure of Jews to feel the pain of their fellow Jews. "The reason we are holding this hunger strike is to convey the message that Jonathan's plight literally hurts each one of us," he said. "The tragedy is that members of the government truly believe they can escape the pain - and so each of the hunger-striking young people will be speaking to four or five Knesset members. It is our hope that through this simple act, the government of Israel will begin to feel the pain of Jonathan Pollard."
Pollard ping
Let 'em eat cake!
Pollard is right where he belongs.
If we give him the injection, we won't have to put up with this crap.
The Israelis have dealt with China. Pollard can rot.
I don't disagree. Can't have that, I'll take what we have.
I'm eating to free Pollard. I'm taking a stand and I won't give up eating until he is freed. And if he ever is freed, I will be sure to find another cause to eat for.
My great grandmother's name was Pollard. It's the name of a prominent Tidewater Virginia family. I actually emailed him about whether he had any history on the family name and he responded that he didn't.
Send him some rope then give him an hour alone. That will set him free.
Pollard never looked like he missed any meals so if he can't fast to free himself (of even a few pounds), why should anybody else give up a good morsel on his behalf?
This is one Jew who believes that Pollard should spend the rest of his life in prison.
Mark
These people are not terribly bright...to choose the moment of a fresh Israel-espionage investigation to bring up Pollard ince again...d-u-m-b.
"The Hebrew month of Elul is one of repentance, and so we as a nation must make amends for the way we have neglected Jonathan Pollard in prison.
Forget Pollard! Anyone in Israel who still wants to make a big fuss about Pollard is very, very, very foolish. He is right where he belongs. I am a staunch supporter of Israel, but having anyone tell me that the USA must go soft on espionage is one of the few things that really, really ticks me off. This is a losing issue for its advocates - they will only manage to threaten US support for Israel without achieving anything for Pollard.
Johnathan Pollard should be released from prison...
...but only when's he dead!
The bastard sold out his country. I don't care if he did it for an ally of ours.
He can rot in prison!
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