Protest March and Mass Demonstration August 5, 2003 for Jonathan Pollard

J4JP Release - August 1, 2003

In honor of Jonathan's 49th birthday [Tisha B'Av] and in protest of Prime Minister Sharon's failure to address the issue of Jonathan's release with President Bush during their recent meeting in Washington, a march and mass demonstration will be held on Tuesday, August 5th at 5:30 PM, starting at the American Consulate on Agron Street. The march will go towards the Knesset via the Prime Minister's residence and end in a mass demonstration opposite the Knesset at 7:15 PM. Details follow the update and background below.

Update and Background

On his recent trip to Washington, Prime Minister Sharon did NOT take the petition signed by 112 Members of Knesset calling for Jonathan Pollard's release. Sharon DID take the list of 550 terrorists that Israel is planning to free as a gesture to the PA, as demanded by the US.

Officials in Sharon's office explained that Sharon "did not want to hurt his meeting with Bush" by presenting the MKs' Pollard petition to Bush. They explained that he side-lined the Pollard issue because he wanted to focus on "more important issues", like the security fence and freeing the Palestinian terrorists.

Do their ears hear what their mouths are saying?!

Jonathan Pollard, who warned Israel about the build-up of NBC (Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical) weapons of mass destruction by neighboring Arab States for use against Israel - information which the US was obliged to share with Israel, but illegally embargoed - is the sole reason that Israel revamped its civilian defense program to include sealed rooms and gas masks as well as biological and chemical antidotes. He is the reason that Israel has been prepared for the threat of NBC warfare for the last 2 decades. He is the only person in the history of the U.S. who has ever received a life sentence for spying for an ally.

From the time that Jonathan was first arrested in 1985 - when Israel tossed him out of the Israeli Embassy in Washington into the waiting arms of the FBI - Israel has treated him as a disposable commodity to be used up and thrown away.

The Government of Ariel Sharon is by far the most culpable. After so many years in prison, the injustice of Jonathan's case is well known. Sharon has all the ammunition he needs to secure Jonathan's release. He himself was an eyewitness to the fact that Jonathan's release was promised to Israel at Wye. Sharon also has all the new legal material to bolster Israel's right to Jonathan's release. But instead, Sharon chooses to keep sabotaging and undermining opportunities to bring Jonathan home.

The treatment of Jonathan Pollard by the Government of Israel is a clear window on the government's behind-the-scenes treatment of all of our MIAs and captives. It is the best indicator of the worth of an individual in the service of our country. We dare not remain silent as Sharon prepares to open the prison gates for murderers and terrorists while abandoning Jonathan and the people of Israel.

Please join us in protesting this outrage and in showing support for Jonathan on his upcoming birthday!

Event Details

WHAT:

WHEN:

SCHEDULE:

• 5:30 PM

  - Gather at Independence Park (Gan Ha'atzmaut) opposite the American consulate on Agron Street, Jerusalem.
  Opening remarks and orientation.

• 6:00 PM

  - March to Knesset via Prime Minister's residence

• 7:15 PM

  - Mass Demonstration Opposite the Knesset

If you can't march, please join us for the demonstration opposite the Knesset at 7:15 PM!

Contact information:

• ADI