Group working to free Jonathan Pollard asks Olmert to act

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"The Committee to Free Jonathan Pollard asked Prime Minister-designate Ehud Olmert and the heads of other political parties on Wednesday night to submit another formal request to the United States government to grant Pollard clemency.

The committee, with the cooperation of Pollard's wife Esther, has told Olmert that a source close to Bush told them that if Israel submits another request, it will be accepted under humanitarian considerations and as a gesture to the new Israeli government.

Pollard has been in an American jail for 21 years for spying for Israel while serving as a U.S. Navy intelligence analyst.

The committee issued a letter on Wednesday night, the eve of the Passover holiday, written by Pollard a few days ago. In the letter, he again calls on the Israeli public to act on behalf of his release. He also blasted his former recruiter and handler, incoming Knesset member Rafi Eitan, the chairman of the Pensioner's Party. Pollard blames Eitan, who was then head of a covert department dedicated to scientific and technological espionage, for his capture."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/705515.html

[Malikshah]

1. Deja vu all over again. Maybe they can contact Bibi

and we can relive the failed Oslo process all over again.

What is it with spying on the U.S.? It's not like we have all that much to offer.

Boy, some folks just can't quit us?

[Scurrilous]

2. US spy threatens to squeal

<snip>

"A former US defence department official jailed for spying for Israel, is threatening to shop secrets about his handler should he become a government minister, a newspaper reported Friday.

In a letter written through his Israeli lawyer to Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Jonathan Pollard complained about his longtime handler Rafi Eitan refusing to hand over an important document requested by US officials.

As long as he keeps the document, Pollard charged that he would remain in jail in the US where he is serving a life sentence, according to a copy of the letter seen by the mass-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper.

Eitan, a former agent of Israel's Mossad overseas intelligence agency, in the 1980s headed the anti-terrorist branch of the service that handled Pollard."

<snip>

"Eitan still faces an outstanding Federal Bureau of Investigation arrest warrant for his role as Pollard's handler, making him potentially the first member of an Israeli government sought by US justice."


http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1916758,00.html

[Tom Joad]

3. Let's hope not the last member of the Israeli govt. eom

[Jim Sagle]

4. I hope it's the last member of the Israeli govt. eom

[Scurrilous]

5. Pollard: Eitan abandoned me

Spy serving life sentence in U.S. for passing classified military intelligence to Israel petitions High Court of Justice to block appointment of his former handler, Pensioners party leader Rafi Eitan as minister

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3246038,00.html

<snip>

"Jonathan Pollard, serving a jail sentence for passing U.S. military secrets to Israel, petitioned the Israeli High Court of Justice to block the appointment of Pensioners party leader and former Mossad agent Rafi Eitan as minister.

Eitan was Pollard's handler when he was arrested by U.S. authorities in 1986.

In the petition, Pollard argued that Eitan's appointment is illegal since he had "forfeited" and "betrayed" him when he was arrested for spying for Israel.

Pollard also asked the court to investigate Eitan's "recklessness" in choosing to operate an American Jewish spy on American soil.

"It is unheard of in the state of Israel that an officer recruits a soldier, uses him and forfeits him. An officer like this cannot serve as minister in Israel," the petition read."