Deal Made For Pollard Release, Say "Sources Closest to Barak";
Pollard's Attorney Protests "Cynical Exploitation" of His Client

April 13, 2000 - Kol Yisrael Radio

Jonathan Pollard's attorney, Larry Dub, in an interview on Kol Yisrael Radio dismissed a report in Yediot Achronot today (04/13/00) announcing a deal to release his client, made by President Clinton and Prime Minister Barak during their meeting in Washington this week. Yediot Achronot reported that "sources closest to Barak" had estimated that Pollard will be released some time around September of this year as part of a final status deal with the Palestinians.

The article stated unabashedly that Clinton was prepared to release Pollard as a "sweetener" to help Barak sell the Israeli public on the release of Palestinian murderers of Jews, as part of the deal. Pollard's attorney stated that his client's plight continues to be cynically exploited by both Washington and Jerusalem to force dangerous concessions on the Israeli public. "Ever since Clinton first promised the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin that he would release Jonathan Pollard in return for further Israeli concessions, Israel has dutifully made painful concessions again and again, but Pollard remains in prison. It is the story of the Persian carpet that Washington keeps selling to Jerusalem over and over again for ever-increasing prices."

Dub charged that after so many years, the ruse is now well known,and suggested that Barak is now willfully playing along for his own purposes. "Mr. Barak knows full well that announcing Jonathan's release to the media before it happens is the surest way to kill any chance of it happening." The attorney pointed out that Mr. Clinton had committed to Jonathan Pollard's release as an integral part of the Wye accords.

"When Clinton decided to renege,the story of a deal for Pollard was skillfully leaked to the Israeli media.Theensuing media hype drew all of our enemies out. This was calculated to assist Clinton in backing down on his promise. Pretty much the same as what is happening now. "When Barak really wants Pollard home," said Dub, " first we will see him in Jerusalem, then the media hype will follow." He said that if Barak is not complicit in leaking the story to Yediot Achronot, he should launch a full-scale investigation to find out who was responsible.

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