Rabbi Asher Mivtzari of the Committee for Jonathan Pollard made a renewed calls for the release of the American-Jewish prisoner. He told Arutz Sheva news, "he was hospitalized last year and suffers from many medical ailments." Rabbi Mivtzari said that a release could restore his health. Pollard was sentenced to life in prison in the 1980s fro passing classified information to Israel.
 
The rabbi added, "this year we have seen great progress. The President and the Prime Minister demanded his release, and in  the U.S. former secretaries of state and politicians have called for a release."