Share
Email
PrintConservative Jews call for Pollard clemency
WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The Conservative Jewish movement, for the first time, is urging President Bush to consider clemency for Jonathan Pollard.
"We do not minimize the treasonous nature of Pollard's espionage, for which he was rightfully arrested, tried, and sentenced," wrote United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism International President Raymond Goldstein and Executive Vice President Rabbi Jerome Epstein in a Dec. 24 letter to the president. "But he has been imprisoned since 1985, and has served far more time in prison than anyone else convicted of espionage, even those who were in the pay of enemies of the United States."
"Given the disproportionate length of his sentence, we strongly believe that it would be an act of kindness consonant with the deepest American values to grant him clemency," said the letter.
The missive comes after the USCJ's board of directors passed a Dec. 21 resolution calling for the president to commute the sentence of Pollard, who was convicted of one count of delivering classified information to Israel. The movement's rabbinical arm, the Rabbinical Assembly, adopted a similar resolution in 1995.
This article was made possible by the support of readers like you. Donate to JTA now.
Discussions About this Article Elsewhere
Comments RSS Feed Reader Comments
Does this mean that Jonathan Pollard is Jewish ?
I can’t think of any other reason that The Conservative Jewish movement would care about this traitor.
It’s called Pidyan Shvuyim. Redemption of the Captives. Pollard committed espionage, not treason. Pollard was never afforded a fair trial - the government reneged on its plea bargain.
Pollard was nearly released during the Wye Accords. Dennis Ross acknowledged that he recommended President Clinton hold Pollard until “final status” negotiations, effectively acknowledging that the US is holding Pollard captive for political purposes.
POLLARD should have executed years ago. He claims he was a spy only to help Israel , he keeps forgetting the hundreds of thousands of dollars he was paid by our “ally,” the “only democracy in the middle east.” SOME ALLY! Remember this “ally” tried to sink the USS LIBERTY!
Leave a Comment
To comment on this article, you must first be registered with JTA.
Not Registered?
There are real advantages to a FREE registration with JTA.org:
- Make your voice heard through comments on articles
- Receive our e-mailed Daily Briefing, an invaluable quick-read
- Help decide what Jewish news matters most with interactive tools
Register Now
Already a JTA member?
- Biden: Israel has right to attack Iran
- For first time, Knesset member gives birth
- Assad invites Obama to Damascus
- Jerusalem parking lot protests continue
- Israeli sub said to cross Suez
- Demjanjuk declared fit for trial
- Gaza terrorist captured, indicted
- Neo -Nazi guard demonstrates in Budapest
- The Chosen: Jewish members in the 111th U.S. Congress
- Jackson kids’ Jewish mother could regain custody
- Guard shot at Holocaust museum dies
- Canadian politician sues Jewish groups
- In endorsing two states, Netanyahu adopts popular Jewish position
- Some Jewish settlers turning against Israel
- Mass converts pose dilemma for Latin American Jews
- Iran turmoil likely to benefit Israel
Trackback URL: http://jta.org/trackback/1001936/
No trackbacks have been created for this article, be the first to create one.