For at least the third time this year, former Senator and Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dennis DeConcini has called publicly for freedom for Jonathan Pollard.

In at least his second letter this year to U.S. President Barack Obama, DeConcini wrote this week that he believes Pollard’s life sentence must be commuted to time served.

DeConcini was a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee in 1985 when Pollard was arrested, and later became its chairman. He noted that his latest missive to Obama on behalf of Pollard was written as a follow-up to the recent call signed by 39 U.S. Congress members advocating the commutation of Pollard’s sentence.

DeConcini's letter to Obama delineates several reasons why he believes Pollard should be released. These include:

  • Pollard was never charged with giving information to a third country other than U.S. ally Israel, nor is there any indication that he did so.
  • His sentence of life imprisonment exceeds the severity of the crime.
  • It also exceeds the punishment generally meted out to those convicted of similar offenses.
  • Though he broke the law, he gave information to a friend of the U.S., “not an enemy.”

Furthermore, DeConcini wrote, commutation of Pollard’s sentence would "be entirely consistent with the agreement the government originally made with him.”

Meanwhile, the Knesset State Control Committee convened this week to discuss the government actions to secure Pollard’s release. Though most MKs present called on the government to change its approach and openly call on Obama to free Pollard, government representative Tzvi Hauser, the Cabinet Secretary, said it would not be safe to change the current strategy.

Esther Pollard, wife of the American-imprisoned Israeli citizen, was angered by the no-change policy. "At this point," she told Israel National News, "barring an open miracle from Heaven, Jonathan is in such bad shape that he is virtually staring death in the face. How could an open call for Jonathan's release by the prime minister make things any worse?!!"

"Jonathan is Willing to Take the Risk"
"Indeed," she continued, "our sources in Washington tell us that Netanyahu's silence is hampering the efforts of American officials in their calls for Jonathan's release. They are waiting for Netanyahu to make a public call and to file an official request with Obama so that it will be clear that Jerusalem wants to receive Jonathan and will be responsible for him."

"The bottom line is: Jonathan is willing to take the risk and to bear any consequences of an open call for his release by the Prime Minister of Israel. How dare Netanyahu deny him this opportunity to finally go free?... It is incumbent upon Netanyahu to make an immediate public call for Jonathan's release and an official request."

NCYI: We Can't Replace PM
National Council of Young Israel Executive Director Rabbi Pesach Lerner revealed that his organization has been paying expenses for Jonathan Pollard that the State of Israel could have been expected to cover, such as phone calls and kosher food - "but the one thing where we cannot replace the Government or Prime Minister of Israel is in making an official call and request for Pollard's release. This is something that only Netanyahu can do!"

"This month is clemency season in the U.S.," Lerner continued. "In light of recent revelations in the case, an official request from the Prime Minister of Israel would surely be looked upon with favor. Mr. Netanyahu, the ball is in your court!"