PM's aides Dermer, Hauser to testify on Pollard

Briefing before Knesset c'tee will be first by PMO officials on why attempts to persuade Obama to free Pollard have failed.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Jonathan Pollard 311 (R) (photo credit: Courtesy of Justice for Jonathan Pollard)
Jonathan Pollard 311 (R)
(photo credit: Courtesy of Justice for Jonathan Pollard)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s senior adviser Ron Dermer and cabinet secretary Tzvi Hauser will brief the Knesset State Control committee soon on the premier’s efforts to bring about the release of Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard, a committee spokesman said Wednesday.
The briefing will be the first official testimony from senior officials in the Prime Minister’s Office presented to the Knesset, on why attempts to persuade US President Barack Obama to commute Pollard’s sentence have failed.
Dermer and Hauser agreed to come to the committee after its chairman Uri Ariel (National Union) threatened a never-used-before legal maneuver to require them to attend via an injunction.
Ariel scrapped plans to use the maneuver after Dermer and Hauser reassured him that they would brief the committee soon.
He said he would immediately try to coordinate a date for Dermer and Hauser to come to the committee as soon as possible. He accused the advisers of disrespecting the Knesset.
“It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister’s Office only understands that there are rules in the Knesset that they cannot avoid after I have to take such an extreme step,” Ariel said. “I hope that they will keep their promise and come as they are required to do. The contempt that they showed the committee on such an important national interest will not be tolerated.”