Pollard's wife asks PM to renew call to free agent
Israeli agent's wife "puzzled" Netanyahu did not mention husband, set to mark 9,800th day in prison, in holiday interview with 'Post.'
Gil Hoffman - The Jerusalem Post - September 18, 2012
Jailed Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard's wife, Esther, called upon President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Tuesday night to reissue their request for clemency from US President Barack Obama.
Pollard, who will be marking her husband's 9,800th day in captivity Thursday, said she was puzzled that Netanyahu did not mention him in Rosh Hashana interviews he granted The Jerusalem Post and Israel HaYom.
"This is Jewish High Holy Day season, which is a time of special grace," she said. "It is a time when leaders can make special requests in honor of the holidays, and a time when special requests may be granted as a goodwill gesture to the Jewish People. As Jonathan's wife, I urge and implore both PM Netanyahu and President Peres to exploit the golden opportunity that the High Holy Days present in order to make a heartfelt appeal on behalf of the people of Israel for Jonathan's immediate release."
Pollard said her husband's health has continued to deteriorate. She said she had planned to visit him for the holidays but he asked her to cancel her plane ticket, because he was in no shape for a visit.
"Alarmed and deeply troubled by his condition, I appeal to our Israel leaders - those who are directly responsible for his fate - to take immediate action to return him home now, without delay," she said. "I implore President Obama to respond positively to the holiday request for Jonathan's freedom that was reiterated last week by 1,200 American Rabbis in a conference call with him. May he look with favor upon a renewed request from Netanyahu and Peres."
October 10 will be the second anniversary of Jonathan Pollard's submission of a formal request for clemency to Obama. While most requests are addressed and formally accepted or rejected within a few months, Obama has not responded to Pollard.
"It is incumbent on President Peres - if his American medal of Freedom is any indication of his stature in America - to spearhead a holiday call for Jonathan's immediate release," Esther Pollard said.
"It is the duty of the prime minister to do so as well, loudly clearly and with all due urgency. And it is my heartfelt request to the American president to please respond positively, and generously at this time of our High Holy Days by sending Jonathan home without further delay."