Posted on 04/15/2006 4:31:49 PM PDT by Sabramerican
Report: US to release Pollard in Barghouti swap deal JPost.com Staff, THE JERUSALEM POST Apr. 16, 2006
Officials in Jerusalem claimed on Saturday that the US would free imprisoned Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard in exchange for Israel releasing jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti.
According to Army Radio, Israel is set to offer the proposed prisoner swap deal in the next few months, following the unfolding anarchy in the Palestinian Authority. Seemingly, Israel intends to use Barghouti's release to strengthen the Fatah movement against the background of the much criticized rule of the new Hamas-led Palestinian government.
In 2004 Israel suggested a similar move but the initiative was rejected by the US government. Jerusalem officials predict that on this occasion the White House will accept the proposal.
Pollard, a former Mossad agent, was convicted of selling US military secrets to Israel, while he worked at the Defense Department's Pentagon headquarters. He was arrested in 1985 and pleaded guilty to the espionage charges. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, and has been incarcerated in a US jail for the past 21 years.
The Israeli government denied for years that Pollard was its spy but finally acknowledged it in 1998.
Various prime ministers have since made efforts to secure a pardon for Pollard, none of which have been successful.
You have demonstrated unprecedented stupidity in almost every one of your posts, still I thought you understood simple English words.
The report was major news on Army radio and in at least two major newspapers. I commented on the item and wrote "IF" this turns out to be true. You do know the meaning of the word "if"? An example of its use would be found in the following sentence. "If" this was a trial balloon, I hope it was shot down.
Notwithstanding. All the commentaries say Israel is looking for a reason to free the terrorist murderer.
There's a theory that the only reason Israel is imprisoning Barghouti is so he could have the credibility on the Arab street to make peace with Israel in the future.
if it was on network tv (after prime-time), I'd watch it.
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