Mrs. Esther Pollard was hosted by the Beit El community last night, in a special event initiated by the Committee to Free Jonathan Pollard. Her husband Jonathan has been in prison for almost 17 years, convicted of spying against the U.S. on behalf of Israel. Though he agreed to a plea bargain, he was sentenced to the maximum sentence - life in prison - based on secret evidence.
The Rachashei HaHavayah (Murmurings of Life) musical band entertained the more than 100 participants with a dramatic rendition of a song composed by local resident Yoav Malka, based on words written by Rabbi Shlomo Aviner in honor of Jonathan's 48th birthday. Mrs. Pollard noted that the American government has grossly mistreated her husband, especially in comparison with its treatment of other spies or criminals who have committed similar or worse crimes. She noted that former President Clinton granted clemency to 16 Puerto Rican FALN terrorists, despite the objections of many of his own government colleagues, but yielded to similar objections to Pollard's release expressed by officials such as CIA head George Tenet.
Another speaker, Mrs. Bella Amiram of Jerusalem, was enthusiastically welcomed when Mrs. Pollard introduced her as "mine and Jonathan's adopted mother." The bonds were forged seven years ago when Mrs. Amiram became outraged by the injustice of the Pollard case, and invited Mrs. Pollard to use her home as a base whenever she is in Israel. Mrs. Amiram had strong words for the American Jewish community, saying that its fear of being branded "dual loyalists" is preventing it from speaking out and taking action against the injustice of Pollard's continued incarceration.
The Rachashei HaHavayah (Murmurings of Life) musical band entertained the more than 100 participants with a dramatic rendition of a song composed by local resident Yoav Malka, based on words written by Rabbi Shlomo Aviner in honor of Jonathan's 48th birthday. Mrs. Pollard noted that the American government has grossly mistreated her husband, especially in comparison with its treatment of other spies or criminals who have committed similar or worse crimes. She noted that former President Clinton granted clemency to 16 Puerto Rican FALN terrorists, despite the objections of many of his own government colleagues, but yielded to similar objections to Pollard's release expressed by officials such as CIA head George Tenet.
Another speaker, Mrs. Bella Amiram of Jerusalem, was enthusiastically welcomed when Mrs. Pollard introduced her as "mine and Jonathan's adopted mother." The bonds were forged seven years ago when Mrs. Amiram became outraged by the injustice of the Pollard case, and invited Mrs. Pollard to use her home as a base whenever she is in Israel. Mrs. Amiram had strong words for the American Jewish community, saying that its fear of being branded "dual loyalists" is preventing it from speaking out and taking action against the injustice of Pollard's continued incarceration.