Israeli minister Ariel: Pollard wouldn't want to be freed for Palestinian prisoners

Bayit Yehudi legislator says jailed Israeli spy told him he would not want to be released under such a "disgraceful deal."

By REUTERS
Housing Minister Uri Ariel. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Housing Minister Uri Ariel.
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
One Knesset member is pouring cold water on reports that a deal for the continuation of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians could include the release of Jonathan Pollard, saying the convicted Israeli spy would not want to be released from an American jail under the reported deal. 
Construction and Housing Minister Uri Ariel said on Tuesday he would oppose any such accord that would see Pollard go free in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, telling Army Radio that Pollard himself was against being part of a prisoner exchange.
"I was personally told he is against being released in such a disgraceful deal," said Ariel, a member of Bayit Yehudi, arguing that Pollard deserved unconditional freedom and not to be swapped for Palestinian "murderers".
 
US officials have said that a deal allowing negotiations to continue could include the release of Jonathan Pollard, who has spent more than 25 years in an American jail after being convicted of spying for Israel. 
US intelligence agencies have long opposed any early release of Pollard, who pleaded guilty in 1987 to charges of spying for Israel and US officials said no decision on his release has yet been made.
Pollard, a US citizen who was granted Israeli citizenship in 1995, is due for parole next year and his early return could provide Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu with the leeway he may need to convince coalition hardliners who object to the release of more Palestinian prisoners.
Sources close to the talks, who declined to be identified, said that under the proposed arrangement, Pollard would be freed before the Jewish holiday of Passover, which begins in two weeks' time.
The negotiations appeared on the brink of collapse at the weekend, when Israel failed to press ahead with a promised release of several dozen Palestinian prisoners.
Israel wanted assurances the Palestinians would not abandon the talks, aimed at ending the decades-old Middle East conflict, when an initial deadline for an accord expires on April 29.
US Secretary of State John Kerry met Netanyahu for the second time in less than 12 hours on Tuesday in an effort salvage stalled peace talks with the Palestinians.
Kerry broke into his travel schedule on Monday for a flying visit to Jerusalem and headed straight back to Europe after his early morning discussions with Netanyahu.
There was no immediate word of any breakthrough and a Palestinian official said Kerry might return to the region late on Wednesday to see Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
A freeze on construction in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and east Jerusalem was also being discussed, officials said.
Israel, they said, would go ahead with the promised release of a fourth group of Palestinians, the last among the 104 it pledged to free as a confidence building measure under an agreement that led to the renewal of the talks in July.
A source said Kerry wanted Netanyahu to call a cabinet meeting on Tuesday to sign off on the proposed deal. Israeli officials declined to comment.
Palestinians regard brethren jailed by Israel as heroes in a quest for an independent state. Israel views them as terrorists.
Kerry, who has visited the region more than 10 times in little more than a year as he strives to secure a peace deal, held talks separately upon his arrival in Jerusalem with Netanyahu and with chief negotiator for the Palestinians Saeb Erekat.
The focus of his mission appeared to have shifted from reaching an elusive framework agreement by April 29, including general principles for a final peace accord, to simply keeping both sides talking beyond that previously set deadline.
Kerry is due in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday for a NATO ministerial meeting that will focus on Ukraine and Afghanistan.