Justice for Jonathan Pollard Responds to the Jerusalem Report Cover Story
(Oct. 19, 1995): "Pollard's Chance for Freedom"

The Jerusalem Report claims:

" Pollard will have to convincingly express remorse for his activities. And it is by no means certain that (he) will be willing to do so."

Fact:

Jonathan Pollard's remorse is a matter of record. At sentencing he provided a detailed statement of remorse and he has reiterated that statement both verbally and in writing on numerous occasions since. This statement forms part of the official documentation of his parole file.

The remorse issue continues to be exploited as an opportunity by some to keep moving the goal posts; and as an excuse by others to withhold support - since no expression of remorse is every enough.

See Also:The Remorse Page.

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The Jerusalem Report:

"To his wife, Esther, of course, a hero is precisely what he is, and she thinks his heroism should be shouted from the rooftops."

Fact:

Jonathan's "heroism" is irrelevant to the case and to all discussion of it. Therefore neither he nor his wife has ever consented publicly to discuss it beyond the statement that "Jonathan does not see himself as a hero."

Like the "remorse" issue, the "heroism" issue is a smokescreen used to distract attention from the true issue of the case, namely, equal justice for all under the law.

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The Jerusalem Report:

"An impressive performance by Pollard when he finally appears before the parole board may well hold the key to his winning presidential clemency."

Fact:

The parole board's function is strictly to review the material and recommendations in the parole file and to arrive at a decision on that basis. The hearing is not an audition and "performance" plays no role, no matter how impressive.

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The Jerusalem Report:

"Pollard has twice postponed pre-parole appearances."

Fact:

there is no such thing as a pre-parole hearing. The concept is pure fiction.

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The Jerusalem Report:

"the latest strategies pursued by wife Esther Zeitz-Pollard may have put the parole board in even less of a mood to be understanding."

Fact:

The parole commission is an independent body unaffected by the actions or statements of outsiders. Its decisions are based exclusively on the weight of official documents in the parole file. Public statements and private letters of support do not form part of the parole file.

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The Jerusalem Report:

"Then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger characterized his (Pollard's) crime as 'treason'."

Fact:

The American government formally apologized during the appellate court hearings. The U.S. Attorney admitted Caspar Weinberger's use of this word was inappropriate, and called it "regrettable".

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The Jerusalem Report claims:

"The bid for citizenship was ill-advisedThere's a contradiction in terms between expressing remorse and seeking the citizenship of the country you were spying for."

Fact:

There is no contradiction in terms between saying " I'm sorry for what I did" and trying to save your own life. As previously stated, Jonathan Pollard's remorse is a matter of record. Israeli citizenship is a means towards effecting his release - a means that has been so carefully considered that it has been endorsed by a virtual majority of eligible Knesset members. Jonathan and Esther Pollard remain committed to securing Israeli citizenship and to pursuing the matter in supreme court.

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The Jerusalem Report:

"Explaining his new dependence on his second wife(his family) say(s) the long years of isolation have made him "emotionally fragile"."

Fact:

Calling Jonathan Pollard "dependent" or "emotionally fragile" flies in the face of the findings of the justice department. Their latest (September 5, 1995) report by Dr. Jim Hilkey, head of the department of psychology at F.C.I. Butner (and recently cited by the Hebrew news daily, Ma'ariv), describes Jonathan Pollard as fully in command of his situation and his environment, with well-rounded emotional affect, and quite brilliant in analytical ability and expression.

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The Jerusalem Report:

"Pollard calls these kinds of comments (about his wife) 'cruel attacksdesigned to hurt me'."

Fact:

The demonization of Jonathan Pollard's wife by attributing false quotes to her and making false allegations about her will not stop Jonathan Pollard from speaking out through his wife. To quote Mrs. Pollard, "our only goal is to tell the truth. If the truth is less pleasant than some would prefer, then remember that Jonathan's day-today reality, for the past ten years, is far less pleasant and certainly far more painful than any ordinary person could bear."

See Also: Pollard Forced to Break Silence