Media Release: Conference of Presidents Supports Parole for Pollard


CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS
OF MAJOR AMERICAN JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS

Lester Pollack
Chairman

Malcolm I. Hoenlein
Executive Vice Chairman

Contact: Richard Cohen Associates
Israel E. Levine
(212) 758 6969

For Immediate Release

JEWISH UMBRELLA GROUP URGES CLINTON
TO SUPPORT PAROLE FOR JONATHAN POLLARD

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations has urged President Clinton to support parole for Jonathan J. Pollard, who was sentenced in 1986 to life imprisonment for passing classified information to Israel while serving as a Naval intelligence analyst.

The Conference of Presidents, an umbrella organization of 50 national Jewish groups, has written a letter to the President noting that while there was no justification for Mr. Pollard's "misguided actions," he has expressed remorse and should be paroled on humanitarian grounds. Mr. Pollard becomes eligible for parole in November.

In the letter, the Jewish leaders group asserted that Mr. Pollard "has already paid a heavy price for his crime." It also pointed out that while a number of its member organizations have expressed support for parole, this is the first time the umbrella group has called for such action.

In addition to writing to Mr. Clinton, the Conference of Presidents has also written to John R. Simpson, regional Commissioner for the Eastern Region of the United States Parole Commission. It urged the Parole Commission to act favorably on Mr. Pollard's parole.

Both letters were signed by Lester Pollack, chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of President. The text of the letter to the President follows:

"We are writing to express support for Jonathan J. Pollard. While you have heard from many of our member organizations in this regard, this is the first time the Conference of Presidents is expressing support for Mr. Pollard's parole. Mr. Pollard will be eligible for parole in November 1995, when he will have completed his minimum sentence requirement. A parole hearing is scheduled for May.

During our prison visit with Mr. Pollard last year he expressed remorse for his actions and said it was never his intent to harm the United States. While there is no justification for his misguided actions, we believe he has already paid a heavy price for his crime. We urge your support on humanitarian grounds for this matter.

4/14/95

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  • See Also: The Parole Page