Conference of Presidents Leaders Back Peres' Request for Pollard's Release

CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS LEADERS BACK PERES' REQUEST FOR POLLARD'S RELEASE

EXPRESS INCREASING CONCERN REGARDING HIS HEALTH

Richard B. Stone
Chairman

Contact: Malcolm Hoenlein, 212-318-6111

Malcolm Hoenlein
Executive Vice Chairman/CEO

April 11, 2012, New York - Richard Stone, Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman, of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, upon hearing of Jonathan Pollard's worsening medical condition, reached out to President Barack Obama with a renewed request to commute Pollard's sentence.

The letter to the President read, in part, "A few months ago we visited Jonathan Pollard in prison and came away concerned about his health and the medical challenges he faced. The news of his hospitalization has augmented those concerns. We join President Shimon Peres and scores of American intellectual, religious, political, and civic leaders in appealing for his prompt release. Given his clear expressions of remorse and pledges regarding his activities upon release, we believe the commutation of his unprecedentedly long sentence to the 27 years he has already served is warranted."

The letter from Stone and Hoenlein, which comes on the heels of President Shimon Peres' personal request to President Obama for Pollard's release, continues, "President Peres is a cautious and judicious person and his letter comes only after much deliberation. We appreciate your kind consideration of his request which we strongly support."

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The Conference of Presidents is the central coordinating body representing 51 national Jewish organizations on issues of national and international concern.