Shaykh Prof. Palazzi of Rome Protests Denial of PoZ Status to Pollard

Justice4JP Release - January 12, 2005

J4JP Preface:

This is a copy of an email, in English and Italian, sent by Shaykh Prof. Abdul Hadi Palazzi of Rome, Director of The Cultural Institute of the Italian Islamic Community, protesting the Israeli Government's denial of Prisoner of Zion status to Jonathan Pollard. Palazzi urges readers to write letters of protest to the Government and send them via Arutz7. He also urges writing letters of support to Jonathan Pollard.

From:

"Istituto Culturale della Comunita' Islamica Italiana"

Date:

Tue, 11 Jan 2005 12:56:30 +0100

To:

italianhonestreporting@yahoogroups.com, supportingisrael@yahoogroups.com, amicidisraele@yahoogroups.com, Destra_per_Israele@yahoogroups.com, islamsunnita@yahoogroups.com, islaminst@yahoogroups.com

CC:

feedback@israelnationalnews.com, Justice4JP@aol.com

Allego e traduco, da parte di Shaykh Palazzi.

Kalim

Dear friends,

No words about this shame: Jonathan Pollard is denied the official status of Prisoner of Zion. After two decades in prison, he is denied this honor. Who deserves it more than he does?

I am asking you to send Arutz Sheva an email of protest against the decision of the official Prisoners of Zion Authority and to send Jonathan Pollard an email of solidarity.

Whoever believes is also asked to pray for his liberation.

Shaykh Prof. Abdul Hadi Palazzi
Director
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Cultural Institute of the Italian Islamic Community
http://www.amislam.com
mailto:islam.inst@flashnet.it

Cari amici,

Una vergogna che lascia senza parole! Jonathan Pollard non viene ufficialmente riconosciuto come Prigioniero di Sion. Se non lui chi, dopo venti anni di carcere?

Chi può mandi ad Arutz Sheva una lettera di protesta contro la decisione dell'Authority per i Prigionieri di Sion e a Jonathan Pollard una lettera di solidarietà.

Chi è credente preghi per la sua liberazione.

Istituto Culturale della Comunità Islamica Italiana
http://www.amislam.com
mailto:islam.inst@flashnet.it

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Attached to email:

Arutz-7 News: Friday, January 7, 2005

Jonathan Pollard has been dealt yet another blow. This time, a request to recognize him as an official Prisoner of Zion has been rejected, once again, by the official Prisoners of Zion Authority.

The stated reason for the rejection astonished many of those who have been following the Pollard case. "How can we know that he will want to live in Israel upon his release from prison?" the members of the decision-making committee wrote. Pollard, in his frequent letters and messages from prison, has often stated his deep desire to live in Israel.

Pollard is serving his 20th year of a prison sentence in the U.S., for passing classified information to Israel. The information in question was critical to Israel's security, and Israel was entitled to it in accordance with agreements it made with the U.S.

The decision to reject the Prisoner of Zion request was made by an appeals committee of the Prisoners of Zion Authority in the Absorption Ministry. The appeal of a previous rejection was submitted by Israeli inventor Dr. Felix-Azriel Kochubievsky (inventor of a transcranial electro-stimulation apparatus).

The committee noted that one of the criteria for recognition as a Prisoner of Zion is that the candidate must be an Israeli citizen and resident. "No one disputes the fact that Pollard is not an Israeli resident," the committee member states. "It may be claimed that it is only his incarceration that prevents him from being a resident... But this claim, in our opinion, is artificial. Furthermore, how can we know that upon his release he will want to live in Israel, against which his bitterness in light of the above is fairly understandable."

Adi Ginzberg, a leading activist for Pollard's release, told INN's Ruti Avraham in response: "I can't think of a better example than this to depict 'Have you murdered and also inherited?' What the committee is saying is that the fact that Israeli governments betrayed Pollard and their obligations towards him - that's the reason to take away his deserved rights. Furthermore, questioning his desire to live in Israel is totally ridiculous; there is no letter or interview he gives in which he does not express his exclusive desire to move to Israel."

Yosef Mendlevitch, one of the most famous Soviet "Prisoners of Zion," has long promoted Pollard's case, calling for American and Israeli Jewish leaders to work for his release. He recently wrote that Israel has nothing to "lose" by granting Pollard the status of Prisoner of Zion: "Prisoners of Zion don't receive special payments, and Ariel Sharon won't be forced to wrangle with his good friend George W. Bush over his release."

Mendlevitch wrote, "The U.S. Administration sinned against Israel by concealing important information from it, in violation of agreements. Granting Pollard the status of 'Prisoner of Zion' would be an important statement on the part of Israel, declaring that Jonathan acted correctly and properly when he bravely went against the American establishment's hiding of the truth from Israel. He set a new standard of Jewish and human responsibility for all of us. He should be considered a Prisoner of Zion, as 'from Zion will come forth' the light of truth and justice for all the nations."


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