Posted on 11/10/2005 2:22:43 PM PST by zyaakov
Justice Rubinstein: U.S. should free convicted spy Pollard
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent
High Court Justice Eliyakim Rubinstein on Thursday made a rare politically tainted comment when saying that the United States should release Jonathan Pollard, who has been jailed for almost 20 years following his conviction for spying for Israel.
"It is time the U.S. Administration free Jonathan Pollard," Rubinstein said. "20 years is more than enough time to serve in prison and I believe that the U.S. should pardon him."
Rubinstein was speaking during the opening panel of the annual conference of the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists in Eilat. During a debate on the global struggle against anti-Semitism, Rubinstein was asked if he considered Pollard?s imprisonment as an act of anti-Semitism.
In response, the justice urged the U.S. to free Pollard, saying that "he committed an error, Israel committed a grave error, but it's time for his release. I hope Israel continues appealing to the United States on the matter, but I don't think the High Court has anything to do in the matter. The bottom line is that he must be released."
Rubinstein's comment might prove to be problematic as the High Court is slated to hand rulings on two petitions by Pollard and his family over his imprisonment, including a request to recognize him as a Prisoner of Zion
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
Exactly.
Pollard may have truly felt that he was acting in Israel's best intrests.
Pollard may have truly felt that he didn't compromise any US intelligence-gathering methods or personnel.
But he did commit espionage. For that fact, he deserves jail time.
Free a "convicted spy?"
No.
Rubinstein says that 20 years is more than enough. Hell, 20 times 20 years isn't nearly enough.
How about we just turn over his body. If Rubenstein is in a hurry I am OK with that. I'll chip in for the rope too.
Kill him and throw his body in the street.
We should cut off his limbs.
Pardon him? Excuse me, but wasn't he convicted of espionage? I don't know if he should be released or not, but I know he should not be pardoned!
As it is, Pollard can expect no leniency ever from either the court system or the American people. Over and above his original crimes, his subsequent verbal attacks on this country have left deep wounds.
Let him rot in jail.
Your Honor:
Mr. Pollard Can Leave Prison only if he is in a Pine Box.
Could someone explain why the venom against this particular fellow? He's served 20 years. And he didn't give secrets to an enemy state.
To the irrational, the record doesn't matter.
Not only did Israel give the technical information, that Pollard supplied, to the Soviet Union (so Jews could leave there) the Soviet really wanted the technical information.
To repair the damage that Pollard did to the US required hundred of millions of dollars and hundred of thousands of technical man hours (assuming that the damage could be repaired).
That man should remain in prison until he meets his maker and receives his final sentence for violating the trust that was placed in him by all of us.
Leni
I was not aware that the USSR was one of out allys.
Pollard spied for Israel. Israel IS our ally.
Pollard spied for Israel, an ally. If indeed the story you claim is true, which is not, afaik, publicly verifiable then what that ally, Israel, did with that info was similiar in effect and morality to what we did in all the cases mentioned above. We dealt with those who were our mortal enemies directly and indirectly to provide for our safety, and the lives and freedom of our citizens.
Nomatter, no amount of arguing will convice the hardcore here at FR. They want him to serve life in prison or be executed.
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