Jonathan Pollard begins 29th year in US prison
Consecutive American presidents refuse to release former US Navy intelligence analyst who spied for Israel
JTA - November 23, 2013
Convicted American spy for Israel Jonathan Pollard entered the 29th year of a life sentence.
Thursday marked the 28th anniversary of Pollard's arrest outside of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.
On Wednesday, Pollard's wife, Esther, called on President Obama to commute her husband's sentence to time served and release him from prison.
Earlier this week, Esther Pollard chastised Israeli President Shimon Peres for saying that Obama has responded favorably to all Israeli requests. Last year, Peres formally asked Obama to commute Pollard's sentence.
Pollard, a civilian US Navy intelligence analyst who spied for Israel, was sentenced to life in prison in 1987, despite a plea bargain in which he admitted his guilt. Several Israeli leaders and an increasing number of US political figures from both parties have made requests that the United States pardon Pollard.
Obama has insisted that Pollard receive a fair hearing by a parole committee review set to take place in 2015.