News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) The Knesset-ordered probe by State Comptroller and Ombudsman Micha Lindenstrauss on the government's role or inaction towards freeing Jonathan Pollard has met stiff opposition from Defense Ministry officials. The Knesset State Control Committee ordered the probe to "understand once and for all why an Israeli citizen is still rotting away in a United States prison," according to committee chairman National Union Knesset Member Zevulun Orlev. Pollard is serving a life sentence in jail for passing classified documents to Israel although the usual punishment for similar offenses is up to four years in prison.

However, senior officials of the Defense Ministry, which is headed by coalition member Ehud Barak (Labor), fear that the investigation will hurt government efforts to free Pollard. His wife Esther Pollard has repeated claimed that the government is not only failing to try to win his release but also often has rejected opportunities to bring about his freedom.

The inquiry is aimed at previous governments as well as the Olmert administration.