Trump should move Pollard to Jerusalem…writes David Singer

June 5, 2017 by David Singer
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President Trump’s delay in moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem presents the President with a wonderful opportunity to commute Jonathan Pollard’s sentence – freeing Pollard to move from New York to Jerusalem.

Trump made his unequivocal Embassy pledge on 22 March 2016:

We will move the American embassy to the eternal capital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem.”

A White House statement on 1 June put this brave face on Trump ‘s decision delaying the Embassy move:

“While President Donald J. Trump signed the waiver under the Jerusalem Embassy Act and delayed moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, no one should consider this step to be in any way a retreat from the President’s strong support for Israel and for the United States-Israel alliance.  President Trump made this decision to maximise the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and the Palestinians, fulfilling his solemn obligation to defend America’s national security interests.  But, as he has repeatedly stated his intention to move the embassy, the question is not if that move happens, but only when.”

 Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs have so far extended over a period of 23 years without any real success – so one can only wonder when the Embassy move is likely to occur.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s response was quite philosophical:

“Though Israel is disappointed that the embassy will not move at this time, we appreciate today’s expression of President Trump’s friendship to Israel and his commitment to moving the embassy in the future,”       

 Trump’s friendship would be confirmed were he to commute Pollard’s life sentence and harsh parole conditions to enable Pollard’s move to Jerusalem,

Pollard – an intelligence analyst with the US Government – received his life sentence for passing classified information to an American ally – Israel. No other American has received such a crushing sentence.

Pollard – released in 2015 after serving 30 years penal servitude – was placed on harsh parole conditions requiring him to wear an electronic tracking device, obey a curfew and allow his computers to be monitored. He must remain in the United States until November 2020.

Pollard’s appeal to relax his parole conditions was recently rejected.

Pollard’s treatment can be contrasted to that meted out to Bradley (now known as Chelsea) Manning – who leaked more than 700,000 documents to WikiLeaks in 2010 whilst serving as an intelligence analyst in Iraq,

Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

President Obama commuted Manning’s sentence in January – three days before vacating the White House – from 35 years to just over 7 years, the majority of which Manning had already served. Trump said Manning should never have been released from prison.

Manning was freed from federal custody on May 17th.

Israeli Prime Ministers from Yitzchak Rabin to Netanyahu had unsuccessfully lobbied successive Republican and Democratic Presidents for Pollard’s release and permission to resettle in Israel.

Pollard is recently reported to have remarked:

“As much as Trump needs to be held to his promise to move the embassy, it is just as important that the prime minister keep his promise to bring an agent home

 President Obama’s precedent in freeing Manning whilst resisting similar overtures for Pollard’s release was reprehensible.

Commuting Pollard’s sentence at this particular moment in Trump’s presidency will help cement the blossoming post-Obama relationship between the United States and one of its staunchest allies – Israel.

Pollard’s move to Jerusalem as It celebrates the 50th anniversary of its liberation from 19 years of illegal occupation by Jordan would alleviate the disappointment of the Embassy not moving there.

That is what Trump-style deal-making is all about.

David Singer is a Sydney Lawyer and Foundation Member of the International Analysts Network

Comments

3 Responses to “Trump should move Pollard to Jerusalem…writes David Singer”
  1. Paul Winter says:

    For a change, I agree with you David. Pollard should have his wish granted and he should be able to make aliyah, to live out the remainder of his years, sick as he is, in Israel.

    One point I would like to dispute: that Pollard was convicted of passing classified information to Israel. If my memory serves me right, there was an intelligence sharing agreement between the USA and Israel. The head of USA Naval intelligence, Admiral “Bobby” something of other, unilaterally reneged on that agreement.

    When Pollard acted to “keep the bastards honest”, Bobby’s cheating became official policy retrospectively, unless of course, he had secret State Dept. authorization to renege. The information passed to Israel concerned its security and enabled it to decide on bombing Iraq’s nuclear reactor.

    Israel showed its cowardice in failing to support its agent and in standing up to a dishonest ally.

    • david singer says:

      Paul

      On June 4, 1986, Pollard pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to deliver national defense information to a foreign government.

      • Paul Winter says:

        David,

        The judge disregarded what was a plea bargain and not necessarily the truth.

        The sentence Pollard served was not only disproportionate but discriminatory. The conditions of his incarceration and the disregard for his health was sadistic and quite likely antisemitic.

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