Pollard Responds to Minister Ben Eliezer Championing Barghouti Release

Justice4JPnews January 6, 2008

Esther Pollard responded this morning to Minister of Infrastructure Fuad Ben Eliezer who declared (regarding a prisoner release deal) "If Barghouti's name is not on the list of those to be freed, I will personally fight for his release!" Ben Eliezer's remarks today left no room for doubt that his advocacy for the release of Marwan Barghouti, who is serving 5 life sentences for the murder of Israeli citizens, is unconditional.

Asked by Israeli media for her response, Esther replied:

When we first met with Ben Eliezer he was Israel's Minster of Defense. We asked him what he was doing to free Jonathan, and he shot back, "What have I got to do with Pollard?!" We had to remind him that Jonathan worked under the auspices of the Ministry of Defense and that as Minister of Defense it was his responsibility to seek Jonathan's immediate release. In all the years since then, Ben Eliezer has never lifted a finger to help Jonathan and certainly has never once opened his mouth publicly to advocate for freedom for Jonathan Pollard. It is simply stunning, on the eve of American President Bush's arrival in Israel, that Israeli Cabinet Ministers (yesterday Matan Vilnai, today Fuad Eliezer, and recently Gidon Ezra and others) instead of advocating for the release of Jonathan Pollard who worked on behalf of the State of Israel for the security of its citizens, are announcing their intention to fight for the release of arch-terrorist, Marwan Barghouti! Is there no end to the depths this government is willing to sink?

Tomorrow, (Monday, 7 January 2008, 2:30 PM) Esther Pollard will take part in a ceremony led by members of the Jerusalem City Council (headed by Rep. Mina Fenton) to re-name a central city square in honor of her husband. Kikar Pariz (opposite the King's Hotel) will be renamed, "Freedom for Jonathan Pollard Square" effective immediately and until his release and his return home. The public is invited to attend.


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