Pro-Pollard hunger striker goes to Washington

April 11, 2000 - Jerusalem Post - Shachar Leven

JERUSALEM

- In an effort to secure the release of Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard from a US jail, Ma'aleh Adumim resident Elie Joseph will continue his one-man hunger strike in front of the White House today.

Joseph's week-long stay in Washington will coincide with Prime Minister Ehud Barak's visit to meet with President Bill Clinton.

Although Joseph's protest was intended to end after a month, he is now nearing the 93rd day of a hunger strike, in which he consumes only clear liquids and broths.

"I still feel strong enough, and there have still been no results," noted Joseph, "so I have decided to continue to strike until I literally can't anymore."

Joseph's decision to strike followed the publication of an article last September in which Pollard's parents faulted Israel for providing the US with key information necessary to obtain a guilty sentence against Pollard and imprison him for life.

Pollard, an American Jew who served as an intelligence analyst for the US navy, was convicted for passing classified information to Israel 15 years ago.

Upon returning from Washington, he hopes to stage a nationwide march over the intermediate days of Pessah.