Text of Radio Interview: Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Decries Injustice to Pollard

Evening Journal - Radio Kol Chai - February 9, 2005

On the Evening Journal of Radio Kol Chai, 9 February 2005, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef shlita, decried the injustice done to Jonathan Pollard, and made a passionate appeal to all to participate in the struggle to secure Pollard's release. Rabbi Yosef is a world-renown religious figure, an internationally recognized Halachik expert, and the spiritual leader of the Shas Party. Below is a transcript of Rabbi Yosef's statements, translated to English by J4JP.

Rabbi Yosef:

"As is known to all, this man Pollard, who is blameless, they arrested him and put him in prison in the United States. The United States prides itself as being so outstanding in doing kind deeds, but just look at what they are doing to a blameless man. He acted in order to save lives in Israel. Everything he did, he did for the sake of Heaven. He does not deserve to be treated this way. He must be freed! And it is a great mitzvah to free him! This is the mitzvah of Pidyan Shvuyim. Whoever is able to help in this matter is obliged to help; for he is truly unjustly imprisoned.

"They are asking us to free prisoners, who are evil, who are murderers. That is what they demand of us and they tell us it will advance peace. And now, we have done them no harm, and they are our ally, for what reason have they imprisoned him? Why won't they free him? No matter how much we ask, their ears are blocked from hearing. Like one who is deaf and dumb. They will not hear that what they are doing is not just. The government of the United States is perpetrating a grave injustice and must desist from it, and free him to a good life and to peace. I implore everyone who is able to help, to help in this matter, and blessed be whomever fulfills these words of Torah! Amain! Ken Yihi Ratzon!"