Pollard Attorney Meets with Israeli President

Dub hand-delivers Pollard letter to Katsav

Justice4JP Release - October 12, 2000

President's Office Subordinated to Political Will of PM Barak

Following a "disappointing" meeting with Israel's President Moshe Katsav today, Attorney Larry Dub released a copy of the letter which he had delivered to President Katsav from his client, Jonathan Pollard.

Dub reported that during the half-hour meeting which took place at Beit Ha'Nasi in Jerusalem, President Katsav made it clear that he saw the president's office as subordinate to the office of Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Katsav indicated that he would take no action whatsoever without first consulting with the Prime Minister and receiving his approval.

The President's legal advisor, who was present at the meeting, openly declared that Barak would veto all initiatives on behalf of Pollard and advised the President against consulting the PM. Nevertheless, Katsav persisted in his position of deferring to Barak.

Justice4JP notes that in following the lead of PM Barak, Katsav effectively diminishes the prestige and the independence of the office of Israel's President. Moreover, this is a clear contradiction of Katsav's election promise to depoliticize the presidency.

According to Dub, Katsav repeatedly denied that he had been previously contacted for help by Knesset colleagues who are mutual friends of the Pollard case, or that he had ever received any previous communications from Jonathan Pollard. He claimed to be unaware of numerous previous attempts by both Dub and Pollard's wife to seek a meeting with him.

Katsav assured Dub that "the Government of Israel is working 24 hours a day, around the clock to bring Jonathan home," but was unable to provide a single example to support his assertion.

"With all due, respect Mr. President, I did not come here to listen to nonsense," Dub responded, "I was hoping to have a constructive meeting with you."

Dub hand-delivered a letter from Jonathan Pollard to the President. The text of Jonathan's letter speaks for itself.