Jailed Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard’s wife, Esther, called upon President
Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Tuesday night to reissue
their request for clemency from US President Barack Obama.
Pollard, who
will be marking her husband’s 9,800th day in captivity Thursday, said she was
puzzled that Netanyahu did not mention him in Rosh Hashana interviews he granted
The Jerusalem Post and Israel HaYom.
“This is Jewish High Holy Day
season, which is a time of special grace,” she said. “It is a time when leaders
can make special requests in honor of the holidays, and a time when special
requests may be granted as a goodwill gesture to the Jewish People. As
Jonathan’s wife, I urge and implore both PM Netanyahu and President Peres to
exploit the golden opportunity that the High Holy Days present in order to make
a heartfelt appeal on behalf of the people of Israel for Jonathan’s immediate
release.”
Pollard said her husband’s health has continued to deteriorate.
She said she had planned to visit him for the holidays but he asked her to
cancel her plane ticket, because he was in no shape for a visit.
“Alarmed
and deeply troubled by his condition, I appeal to our Israel leaders – those who
are directly responsible for his fate – to take immediate action to return him
home now, without delay,” she said. “I implore President Obama to respond
positively to the holiday request for Jonathan’s freedom that was reiterated
last week by 1,200 American Rabbis in a conference call with him. May he look
with favor upon a renewed request from Netanyahu and Peres.”
October 10
will be the second anniversary of Jonathan Pollard’s submission of a formal
request for clemency to Obama. While most requests are addressed and formally
rejected within a few months, Obama has not responded to Pollard.
“It is
incumbent on President Peres – if his American medal of Freedom is any
indication of his stature in America – to spearhead a holiday call for
Jonathan’s immediate release,” Esther Pollard said.
“It is the duty of
the prime minister to do so as well, loudly clearly and with all due urgency.
And it is my heartfelt request to the American president to please respond
positively, and generously at this time of our High Holy Days by sending
Jonathan home without further delay.”
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