Jonathan Pollard was an ideologue, not a mercenary

Esther Pollard - Letter to Editors of WSJ - May 14, 2008

Re: Bush Visit Puts Spy Back in Spotlight by Cam Simpson
The Wall Street Journal, May 14, 2008; Page A15

The above article attempts to present a balanced account of the Pollard case, however there is one issue in particular that begs for clarification: the issue of financial gain.

The following facts ought to be brought to the attention of WSJ readers, lest the article contribute to the reams of misinformation about the case which has been calculatedly leaked to the media for the last 2 decades, by those American officials who continue to exploit my husband's plight to undermine the US-Israel special relationship:

  1. Jonathan Pollard was an ideologue, not a mercenary. The FBI concluded after nine months of polygraphing that Jonathan Pollard acted for ideological reasons only, not for profit. This fact was recognized by the sentencing judge who declined to impose a monetary fine, as is routinely done when there is evidence of financial gain.

  2. On May 11, 1998, (ending years of implausible denial) Israel formally acknowledged Jonathan Pollard had been a bona fide Israeli agent. This fact wiped out any remaining doubt about Jonathan's motives. Being an official agent is, by definition, the polar opposite of being a mercenary. An agent does not "sell" information to the country he serves; he passes it.

  3. In spite of the Israel's formal acknowledgment of Jonathan as agent, the case continues to be exploited by certain elements within the American Administration to promote an anti-Israel/pro-Arab agenda. Consequently the character assassination of Jonathan Pollard continues to be marketed to the media by various American officials, along with the lie claiming mercenary motives.

  4. The paltry sums that Jonathan did receive were intended to cover operational expenses, but were inadequate even for that purpose. Consequently, Jonathan went into personal debt as result of his activities for Israel.

  5. It is obvious that Jonathan could have made millions by providing the information (which was vital to Israel's continued existence) to Israel's enemies. Instead, he gave it to Israel, without any benefit or gain, at the cost of his own freedom for the last

    23 years.

Yours truly,

Esther Pollard
Mrs. Jonathan Pollard