NY Dems: Free Pollard

Reps. Weiner, Towns push petition to free Jonathan Pollard in bid to save Mideast talks

Andy Solitis - New York Post - Sept 25, 2010

Two House Democrats from New York have signed a petition calling on President Obama to release convicted Israel spy Jonathan Pollard in hopes it will break a deadlock in Mideast peace talks.

Reps. Anthony Weiner (Brooklyn-Queens) and Edolphus Towns (Queens) joined Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) in circulating the plea for clemency among House colleagues, Frank's office said.

Clemency for Pollard could be crucial to the fragile peace talks because Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled he is willing to make a key concession if the Texas-born spy is freed.

Palestinian officials have threatened to walk out of the just-started direct negotiations with Israel if Netanyahu allows a freeze on Jewish settlement construction to expire tomorrow.

The original article can be read here.