Free Pollard rally at Western Wall
Free Pollard rally at Western WallIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Two days after United States President Barack Obama was reelected, former minister Rafi Eitan has called again for Obama to release Jonathan Pollard.

Eitan, who recruited Pollard and served as his handler, apologized to the United States for his role in the affair. Pollard gave Israel classified American documents relating to Middle East security.

“I’m responsible in the matter,” Eitain told Reshet Bet. “I apologized, and I apologize again and say, ‘Please, send Pollard home.’”

Obama has shown readiness to meet extremist groups in the middle, Eitan said. “The time has come for him to think about a man like Pollard.”

Eitan has previously said that U.S. intelligence services are using Pollard to take revenge on Israel.

Pollard has served 27 years of a life sentence for illegally passing on the classified material. He is suffering from poor health and in early 2012 was rushed to hospital in critical condition.