Pollard supporters laud release
AUSTRALIAN supporters of Jonathan Pollard were buoyed at news the long-jailed American intelligence expert, who served almost 30 years for spying for Israel, has been paroled, but lamented further restrictions on his freedom.
AUSTRALIAN supporters of Jonathan Pollard were buoyed at news the long-jailed American intelligence expert, who served almost 30 years for spying for Israel, has been paroled, but lamented further restrictions on his freedom.
Pollard was arrested in 1985 and two years later was sentenced to life in jail for passing classified information to Israel while working as a civilian intelligence analyst for the US Navy.
He is believed to be the only American sentenced to life imprisonment for spying for an allied country.
Under the terms of his parole, Pollard is forced to remain in the US for the next five years. And while technically being permitted to get a job, there are reports a major investment firm rescinded an employment offer because his parole conditions allow surveillance of his employer’s computers.
Dr Mat Gelman of Melbourne, who has been campaigning for Pollard’s release, described the news of his release as “bittersweet”.
“It’s on the one hand a wonderful development and an end to a horrifically long and unjust sentence. On the other hand, there remain almost draconian restrictions that are placed on him that have resulted in him being unable to work and have a normal life and an ability to get to Israel ,” he told The AJN.
Rabbi Shimon Cowen – director of the Institute of Judaism and Civilisation, who had lobbied Tony Abbott, while he was prime minister, to intercede for Pollard’s release – said Pollard “was answering to higher issues of conscience”, and had been caught with intelligence critical to Israel’s security that was being withheld by the US.
Zionist Federation of Australia president Danny Lamm said Pollard’s release was “way overdue; it’s disgraceful that he was incarcerated for so many years and we only wish him a healthy and happy future”.
“Clearly there was political intervention that determined that he would be the longest-serving American spy and its simply inexplicable the way they treated him. We hope he will be able to get to Israel at the earliest opportunity,” said Lamm.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Robert Goot said Pollard “served far more time in jail than others who had been convicted of more serious espionage charges … We are pleased that Pollard is finally free and hope that the conditions of his parole are relaxed to allow him to fulfil his wish to migrate to Israel.”
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein concurred.
“Jonathan Pollard’s release is a welcome but overdue step – not because he did not deserve to be punished for his illegal espionage activities, but because his punishment ended up being excessive for the crimes for which he was convicted compared to other similar cases,” Rubenstein said.
“Hopefully, Washington and Jerusalem can now put this longstanding irritant in US-Israel relations behind them and move to a more cooperative political relationship in the difficult period ahead.”
PETER KOHN
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