Pollard Hospitalized, Undergoes Surgery
Hamodia Staff - Hamodia [NY] - March 7, 2014
YERUSHALAYIM - Jonathan Pollard underwent surgery on Wednesday after his medical condition deteriorated, apparently related to his intestines, The Jerusalem Post reported on Thursday night, quoting sources close to him.Pollard, 59, has been in extreme pain due to multiple medical problems for a prolonged period of time. The Israeli agent's health has been in decline over the course of nearly 28 and a half years in prison, and has been cited numerous times by former senior U.S. officials as a reason for his release on humanitarian grounds.
"He had surgery to fix multiple serious complications in his digestive system," Esther Pollard said on Thursday. "His condition is worrisome. He is worn out. I'll only know more details when he is well enough to tell me."
The long list of ailments that he has suffered from over the years includes diabetes, nausea, dizziness, blackouts and ongoing problems with gall bladder, kidneys, sinuses, eyes and feet. He also suffers from Meniere's disease, which causes him to lose consciousness and fall without warning.
A protest vigil was held outside the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv on Thursday night appealing to U.S. President Barack Obama to free Pollard
Esther Pollard prayed for his health and freedom on Thursday at the Kosel.
Deputy Religions Minister, Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan (Jewish Home), has asked the general public to pray for Pollard's recovery.
"My teacher and rabbi, the great Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu z"l, was Jonathan Pollard's rabbi," recounted Ben Dahan. "He participated in the struggle for his release, petitioned leaders throughout the world on his behalf, and visited him in his jail in the U.S. ten times."
Rabbi Ben Dahan noted that Pollard did great deeds for the security of Israel. "Now, with his hospitalization, he requires our prayers. I ask you to stop what you are doing for a minute, and say a chapter from Tehillim for the healing of Yonatan Ben Malka Pollard, for complete recovery."