The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), which has fought long and hard to secure the release of long-jailed Jonathan Pollard by lobbying legislators, meeting government officials, writing articles, letters and press releases urging his release, nonetheless and with a heavy heart opposes the Obama Administration’s proposal that he be freed in return for unjust, unwise and immoral Israel concessions.
In a deal believed to be in the pipeline, Israel would release the fourth batch of convicted and jailed Palestinian terrorists it agreed to release last year. This would include 14 Arab Israeli prisoners, something Israel has never previously done. Israel would also release a further 400 prisoners “without blood on their hands” –– meaning only that the terrorists in question failed to murder Jews in the course of the terrorist assaults which they either carried out, assisted or planned. Lastly, Israel would also freeze Jewish construction in Judea/Samaria. All Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestinian Authority (PA) would have to do is to agree to keep negotiating for another 12 months and desist from unilateral actions against Israel at the UN –– something it is already prohibited from doing under the terms of the Oslo Accords, which it has never implemented anyway.
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, “Over the course of decades, I have personally spoken with Jonathan Pollard over fifty times, most recently, a few years ago. He also urged me several times thus –– ‘Mort, make it clear to the Israeli officials not to make any concessions, not of any land, or of freezing construction of Jewish homes in Judea/Samaria, in order to obtain my release.’
“Looking back, remarkably, the bulk of my conversations with Jonathan Pollard consisted of how we can help Israel, not of how the ZOA could help Jonathan in his horrific personal situation. He also he thanked me strongly for the work the ZOA does for Israel.
“Jonathan Pollard’s release should not be conditional on any Israeli concessions after he has served 25 years longer than any other American convicted of a similar crime. It is long past time that he should be freed.
“As Senator John McCain said today, ‘It’s disgusting … I favor his release, I think he’s served long enough, but to be used in this fashion, it’s disgraceful.”