Justice4JP Note
In an historically unprecedented show of solidarity, a virtually unanimous Knesset (Israeli parliament) signed a petition to President Bush calling upon him to release Jonathan Pollard.The petition which was signed by 110 Members of Knesset - every single member of every Jewish political faction (including Arab members ) - is representative of the entire population of the Jewish State. The petition, which was the initiative of MK Michael Eitan (Likud), was signed by all cabinet ministers and deputy ministers as well.
Never before in the history of the State of Israel has any issue received the support and signatures of 110 Knesset members. (Even the overwhelmingly popular Peace Treaty with Jordan did not garner the signature of 110 MKs.)
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon hand-delivered the Knesset petition to President Bush when they met on February 7, 2002. The text of the petition and a list of the 110 MK signees follows below. To date, there has been no response to the petition from the White House.
Jerusalem, February 6, 2002
23 Shvat, 5762
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States of America
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. President.
We, the undersigned, members of the Israeli Knesset turn to you to seek a positive solution to the Jonathan Pollard case.
We do this solely on humanitarian grounds and are painfully aware that Mr. Pollard violated the laws of the United States.
Jonathan Pollard has already served over sixteen years in prison. We respectfully request that Mr. Pollard's life sentence be commuted to the time he has already served. Such an act of compassion is consistent with the scope of your authority as President of the United States to grant pardons to prisoners under special circumstances.
As you know, Mr. President, Israel stands with you and the American people in the war against terror, and salutes you for your vigilance against the evils of world terrorism that threaten both of our democracies. May God bless America and you as its President.
Respectfully yours,
(signed)
Members of the Knesset:
Speaker
Avraham Burg
In the following pages you will find the names of 110 Knesset members with their signatures. The few who have not signed the letter were out of the country at the time and gave their approval by phone. [J4JP Note: These individuals are indicated with an asterisk below.]
Centre Party
See Also: