Knesset Letter to Biden: Free Pollard Now!

March 16, 2010 - Justice4JPnews release

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The Honorable Joseph Biden,
Vice President of the United States of America

Dear Mr. Vice President,

The Festival of Passover - the Festival of Freedom of our People is approaching. Sadly, there will be a cloud over our celebration as we remember that for the past 25 years, Jonathan Pollard has been in prison in the United States, and that recently his poor state of health has greatly deteriorated.

Jonathan Pollard, who has expressed regret for his actions, received an extremely heavy punishment, even in comparison with others in the United States who were sentenced for similar offences. The usual sentence for the type of offence committed by Pollard is only 2-4 years in prison.

In a past interview, you expressed your opinion that there is a rationale for granting Pollard leniency. We are therefore calling on you from the depths of our hearts, pleading with you to show mercy to Jonathan Pollard who is so sick, and to grant him clemency as a humanitarian gesture to the Jewish People, to mark the Festival of Passover, the Festival of our Freedom.

The release of Jonathan Pollard would bring extra significance to our Festival of Freedom this year and add real meaning to the special relations and the friendship between our two nations. The release of Pollard will bring only benefit to the United States and blessings from Heaven.

Sincerely yours,

Uri Ariel, MK
Chair, The Knesset Lobby for Jonathan Pollard

And the following chairs of parliamentary groups in the Knesset:

MK Dalia Itzik (Kadima)
MK Ze'ev Elkin (Halikud)
MK Robert Ilatov (Israel Beitenu)
MK Abraham Michaeli (Shas)
MK Orit Noked (Hawavoda)
MK Menachem Moses (Yahadut Hatora)
MK Yaakov Katz (Hihud Haleumi)
MK Zvulun Orlev (Habait Hayehudi)

c.c. Speaker of the Knesset, Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin, MK,

See Also: Knesset to Biden: For Smooth Relations, Free Pollard: The Jewish Daily (Forward)