Pollard Supporters: Yediot Plans Character Assassination

Arutz7/Israel National News - Sept. 30, 2009

(IsraelNN.com) Pollard supporters say Israel's largest newspaper, the left-leaning Yediot Achronot, is planning to write an article defaming Jonathan Pollard. Pollards lawyer, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, sent a sharp letter to Yediot protesting the planned article.

"My client received a list of questions [from journalist Ronen Bergman] today, Monday, and was asked to respond to them by twelve noon tomorrow. From the list of questions, it appears, that the article which is about to be published will be comprised of half-truths and out right lies. Even if these lies were previously published or repeated in the media, they are still actionable according to the laws which govern slander and libel. Moreover, the list of questions considered as a whole, adds up to nothing more than wanton character assassination of Jonathan Pollard and his wife."

"Under the circumstances, we insist that you reconsider your intent to publish this article. Publishing the article is likely to do great damage to a man who sacrificed himself in the service of the State of Israel, and as a consequence of which, he is about to begin his 25th year in prison, two months from now."

"Be advised that my clients reserve all of the rights accorded to them by law to pursue this matter to the full extent of the law, should you, nevertheless, choose to go ahead with publication of this article."