CBN News: Pat Robertson Appeals for Israeli Spy's Release
Christian Broadcating Network (CBN) News - April 6, 2011
JERUSALEM, Israel - CBN founder Dr. Pat Robertson called on President Barack Obama to commute the life sentence of convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, who has been imprisoned in the U.S. for more than 25 years.
In a letter to the president dated March 28, 2011, Robertson said "Pollard's sentence has been totally disproportionate to any concept of what we have of justice." Click here to read the letter.
Robertson noted briefly that Pollard had become a scapegoat for the infamous Aldrich Ames, a former CIA counter-intelligence officer convicted in 1994 of spying for the Soviet Union and Russia. Before his arrest and conviction, Ames managed to convince authorities that Pollard was involved in his counter-espionage crimes.
Robertson's most recent appeal follows years of personal advocacy for Pollard's release.
Over the past several months, many prominent political, diplomatic, academic and religious leaders have appealed to Obama to commute Pollard's sentence, especially in view of his deteriorating health.
In a meeting Tuesday with Obama, Israeli President Shimon Peres made an appeal for Pollard's release. Asked by the press how Obama responded to the appeal, Peres reportedly said, "He heard me." Before departing for Washington, Pollard's wife, Esther, met with Peres in Jerusalem to ask him personally to appeal for her husband's release.
Among a long list of prominent figures urging Obama to act are former CIA Director James Woolsey, former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State George Shultz, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Some say, the facts surrounding Pollard's case indicate that his legitimate appeal for clemency has been overlooked by successive U.S. administrations.
To learn more about Jonathan Pollard, please visit the Justice for Jonathan Pollard website.