Pollard Sues the State of Israel To Stop Govt. Lies Claiming He Got Money

August 4, 2008 - J4JP Press Release

Israeli agent, Jonathan Pollard, who is completing his 23rd year of a life sentence in the United States for his service to Israel, is filing a lawsuit today in Tel-Aviv District Court seeking Declaratory Relief.

Pollard's lawsuit aims to set the record, once and for all, that he and his wife, Esther, have never received any money whatsoever from the State of Israel, from the day of his arrest to the present.

In his lawsuit Pollard states from the outset, that neither he nor his wife are interested in receiving money from the State - that his sole purpose in bring suit against the Government of Israel is to put an end to the lies it disseminates, lies which have been severely undermining the public struggle for his release.

In an unprecedented move Pollard turns to the Tel Aviv District Court today in order to refute the state's allegations, according to which, Jonathan and his wife Esther have been getting money from Israel for years. Pollard demonstrates in his lawsuit that the Government is lying to the media, to the public and the to the Courts when it states, repeatedly and in every public venue imaginable, that it supports him and his wife, that it makes resources available to them and that it provides them with funds. Pollard states unequivocally and offers proof that neither he nor his wife has ever received a cent from the Government of Israel.

Pollard's lawsuit demonstrates that the false statements and claims of the State about the issue of money are intended to obscure from public scrutiny the fact that the State has not made the most minimal effort to secure his release from prison; and that they are also intended to blacken his reputation and that of his wife, Esther Pollard, in the eyes of the public, by portraying them as people whose sole motivation is a desire to elicit monetary support from the State- which is patently false. In defaming him this way, Pollard states, the State of Israel is effectively preventing him from galvanizing public support to help secure his release from prison.

Pollard is represented by attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, director of "Shurat Hadin - Israel Law Center", and attorney Roy Kohavi.

According to the lawsuit, Pollard has done everything he possibly could to get the State of Israel to stop lying, by claiming that it helps him financially or in any other way. He has turned to the Supreme Court, which refused to help on the grounds that the issue is political. He has turned to the State Comptroller, who told his attorney that he is not empowered to investigate this issue, that his mandate from the Knesset limits him only to expressing an opinion, not to investigating. Again in order to try to stop the lies, Pollard (via his attorney) turned to the State and asked for a detailed accounting of the funds they claim they are providing to him and his wife. The requests for information made to the Prime Minister's office were declined based on bizarre excuses such as " the individual's right to privacy", "sensitivity issues", and "for fear it will harm Pollard's own good and Israel's efforts to assist him".

The lawsuit maintains that Pollard and his wife, Esther, have been abandoned by the State. It points out that they live in grave distress, both financially and in general. All of their expenses are funded by what little money Pollard's wife, Esther, has, and with the support of a few close friends.

The lawsuit reveals, for the first time, a letter from then-Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak to MK Rehavam Zeevi, which states unequivocally that the State of Israel does NOT give any money to Pollard and does not have a bank account for him.

According to Pollard's attorney, attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, "the State is throwing sand in the public's eyes and is shamelessly lying to the court when it claims it financially supports Pollard and his wife. The state cannot go on deceiving the public by making it believe that it does anything for Pollard. Not only did the State abandon Pollard for 23 years, it also has the audacity to lie about it. If the State ever gave one shekel to Pollard or his wife - let it prove it! We know the truth, and it will come to light in the courtroom."

According to Esther Pollard, "This week, it is Jonathan's 54th birthday. Had the State of Israel made the slightest effort, Jonathan would be here, celebrating his birthday at home in Jerusalem. Instead, he is 'celebrating' by being forced to sue the State of Israel to try to stop the campaign of lies it is waging against him."

Copies of the Lawsuit in English and/or Hebrew can be obtained from Justice4JP@gmail.com