Clinton Ducks Rabin Request for Pollard as Parallel Gesture in Security Prisoner Release

Justice4JP Media Release - September 29, 1995

In response to a request from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to President Clinton, September 28, 1995, to expedite the release of Jonathan Pollard as a parallel gesture to Israel's release of 2,000 Arab security prisoners (including murderers), Mr. Clinton was reported to have replied that he would consider the matter in the event that parole was not granted.

TRANSCRIPT OF ESTHER POLLARD'S RESPONSE:

In an interview on Israel Television, [September 29, 1995] Esther Pollard responded to these developments as follows:

"Jonathan and I are grateful to Prime Minister Rabin for undertaking this initiative with President Clinton. However, expert analysis of the situation indicates that the only way to effect Jonathan's release is immediate commutation of his sentence.

"We have been advised by top legal experts on parole as follows:

  1. There is no possibility that Jonathan will be granted parole;
  2. Once parole has been refused, it is much more difficult for President Clinton to commute the sentence; and
  3. In an election year, President Clinton has neither the incentive nor the political support to overrule the parole board. It would be political suicide.

"THEREFORE IT IS CRITICAL THAT PRIME MINISTER RABIN INSIST UPON IMMEDIATE COMMUTATION FOR JONATHAN POLLARD. WE APPEAL TO BOTH THE PRIME MINISTER AND TO PRESIDENT WEIZMAN NOT TO FREE ANY ARAB PRISONERS UNTIL JONATHAN'S CASE IS FULLY RESOLVED AND HIS FREEDOM IS FIRST SECURED."

See Also:

  • The Weintraub Report on Parole
  • Rabin solidifies U.S. ties