At the initiative of MK Ruchama Avraham (Likud), Israel's legislature will officially remember the country's MIAs and other captives. Knesset Speaker Ruby Rivlin granted permission for her to read aloud, at the start of each week's sessions, their names and the amount of time since their capture or disappearance. It is unclear, however, whether Jonathan Pollard, an Israeli agent who has been in American captivity for 18 years, is on the list - or who will read the names aloud.
MK Avraham's spokesman told Arutz-7's Ruti Avraham that the MK had not included Pollard's name, because the initiative "focuses exclusively on MIAs and soldiers who were taken captive in the course of their wartime activities." The spokesman acknowledged that working on behalf of Pollard's release is "worthy," but said that there was concern that including those who worked for Israel's intelligence agencies might sidetrack the initiative.
The Israeli Activist Movement for Jonathan Pollard protested, saying that reading some names and not Pollard's would create a situation "in which Pollard will be thought of, G-d forbid, as one who is not worthy of being remembered."
Knesset Speaker Ruby Rivlin, however, informed Arutz-7's Yosef Meiri that he had, in fact, granted permission to MK Avraham to read out the names, and added, "Similarly, the citizens Jonathan Pollard and Azzam Azzam, who have not yet returned home, will also be mentioned." Rivlin's spokesman expressed puzzlement as to the source of the information that Pollard would not be mentioned.
In a subsequent phone call to MK Avraham's spokesman, Arutz-7 learned that Speaker Rivlin would "apparently" be the one to read the names aloud. The situation is expected to be resolved by tomorrow, when the current week's Knesset sessions begin.
MK Avraham's spokesman told Arutz-7's Ruti Avraham that the MK had not included Pollard's name, because the initiative "focuses exclusively on MIAs and soldiers who were taken captive in the course of their wartime activities." The spokesman acknowledged that working on behalf of Pollard's release is "worthy," but said that there was concern that including those who worked for Israel's intelligence agencies might sidetrack the initiative.
The Israeli Activist Movement for Jonathan Pollard protested, saying that reading some names and not Pollard's would create a situation "in which Pollard will be thought of, G-d forbid, as one who is not worthy of being remembered."
Knesset Speaker Ruby Rivlin, however, informed Arutz-7's Yosef Meiri that he had, in fact, granted permission to MK Avraham to read out the names, and added, "Similarly, the citizens Jonathan Pollard and Azzam Azzam, who have not yet returned home, will also be mentioned." Rivlin's spokesman expressed puzzlement as to the source of the information that Pollard would not be mentioned.
In a subsequent phone call to MK Avraham's spokesman, Arutz-7 learned that Speaker Rivlin would "apparently" be the one to read the names aloud. The situation is expected to be resolved by tomorrow, when the current week's Knesset sessions begin.