Welcome to the first post of Saving Our Israel. In a fashion that is more recognizable to my personality, Saving Our Israel will have the distinct taste of my unchecked thought process. Supporting Our Israel, my efforts at a positive PR campaign for Israel, was so well received that I decided to start Saving Our Israel. I can only hope and pray that it is received as well. Thank you all for reading.
The name Jonathan Pollard, in many circles, brings a certain rage and uneasiness to the surface. The opinions of his incarceration vary between it has been too long through he probably deserved it. Whatever your feelings are, the very story will illicit some response from a caring person.
In 1987, he was handed a Life sentence for the crime of spying for Israel. As an American, had he spied for an enemy country, probably would have been convicted of Treason and probably given the Death sentence. As he spied for a friendly country, he was not given such a harsh sentence. His Life sentence, however, raises the question of why? The longest sentence given for an American spying for a friendly country was 14 years, given to Steven Lalas for spying for Greece. Comparatively, the American spy Robert Hanssen, who spied for the Soviet Union during the Cold War, until 2001. He too has received a life sentence, with 23 hours of solitary confinement a day.
There will always be people calling "Anti-Semitism" when a Jewish person is incarcerated. In this case, such a cry may or may not be applicable. It is certainly not out of the question, but honestly, it is probably highly unlikely. This is not the Dreyfuss Affair. Jonathan Pollard did spy. He has paid his dues and has been imprisoned for longer than anyone else in this situation. The question is, however, why?
In many discussions with people, I have found that a strong amount of people believe that Mr. Pollard knows something that is still damning for the US or Israel and that he remains a threat. Only the Governments know exactly why he is still in jail and I guarantee they wont be telling anytime soon. As supporters then, are we obligated to continue pressing for his release? In Jewish Law, we are obligated even to sell a Torah scroll, the holiest item found in Jewish life today, so important is a Jewish life.
I believe that we must act according to the present situation, if he really doesn't know anything that is potentially damaging to the parties involved. When President Bush was in office, between 2000 and 2008, would have been the most opportune time to really press for his release. President Bush's support of Israel and his support of the Jewish people was strong and the Jewish people truly had his ear. Presently, we are confronted with President Barak Obama. His contempt for America's only ally in the Middle East is apparent to all who have seen his comments before the 2011 AIPAC conference. During the conference, he stood defiantly in a room filled with pro-Israel supporters and continued with his anti-Israel rhetoric.
Does anyone really think that the Jewish people actually have the President's ear now?
To ask for his release would be a silly waste of time. Last week, Jonathan Pollard's supporters called for his temporary release to see his 95 year old father, who was very ill and on his death bed. The call went beyond unheeded. I scoured the internet for hours to see any reply from the White House and there was nothing. It wasn't even a blip on their radar. Unfortunately, on June 18th, 2011 Mr. Pollard's father passed away, without seeing his son. The renewed push for his temporary release for the burial will also go unchecked.
In the end, reality must set in. Jonathan Pollard will die in prison. I wish it weren't so. I support his release whole-heartedly, but I am resigned to the fact that a man, who paid his dues, will rot away in prison. This is not to say he didn't do anything wrong. To be honest with you, I believe anyone who spies, regardless of a friendly status, should be given Life sentences. Since this is not the case, his sentence must be compared to other situations. His wrong doing was not worse than Robert Hanssen.
The only thing we can do now, until the Oval Office sees a friendly face, is pray. Pray for the release of Jonathan Pollard. Pray for a President who shows compassion. Pray for a day where reason and logic reign supreme and Pollard can see the light of day. Until then, pray.
This is a very good article although I disagree that prayer is the only thing that will help Pollard. For one thing, I can't see how prayer would help. In my opinion G-d has forsaken Jonathan Pollard. But G-d is not to blame. The sitting POTUS is to blame. He has assumed responsibility for this miscarriage of justice and the ensuing unfair and discriminatory sentence that Pollard has endured. Obama will go down in history for this, he will be known as a cruel and heartless sociopath. I cannot stand to see the words that Jonathan will die in prison. That is too heart wrenching to accept. #FreeJonathanPollard
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