Hundreds of youths and public figures took part in a special tree-planting ceremony today in honor of the dedication of the new Jonathan Pollard Freedom Forest, near Ashkelon. MK Orit Noked (Labor), who co-chairs the Knesset lobby for Pollard with MK Gilad Erdan (Likud), spoke to Arutz-7 today from the site. "The struggle for Pollard is something that crosses all lines," she said, "as we see here today: religious and non-religious, and people from various political persuasions. It is a cause around which we all unite. In general, Tu B'Shvat [New Year for Trees] symbolizes renewal and our connection with the land. I would very much like to see Pollard here, planted in our midst."
Reminded that Prime Minister Sharon had, on his last trip to the U.S., "forgotten at home" the petition signed by 112 MKs on behaf of Pollard, Noked said, "We plan to write him - and possibly meet with him - and remind him that on his upcoming trip to the U.S., it would be appropriate that while speaking about 'disengagement,' he should note that Pollard, too, should be 'disengaged' from his prison cell in North Carolina where he has been sitting for over 18 years."
Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz, who initiated today's ceremony, said, "We see that even terrorists and murderers have been released, and we ask Prime Minister Sharon, on his upcoming visit to the U.S., to request the release of Jonathan Pollard as well."
A-Sinara, a newspaper in the Israeli-Arab city of Nazareth, reported today that Israeli-Druze citizen Azzam Azzam might be on his way to freedom after eight years of imprisonment in Egypt. Israel has strenuously denied that Azzam was engaged in espionage on behalf of Israel. The paper reports, in the name of Israeli sources, that Azzam may be freed in an exchange for Egyptian prisoners held in Israel.
Reminded that Prime Minister Sharon had, on his last trip to the U.S., "forgotten at home" the petition signed by 112 MKs on behaf of Pollard, Noked said, "We plan to write him - and possibly meet with him - and remind him that on his upcoming trip to the U.S., it would be appropriate that while speaking about 'disengagement,' he should note that Pollard, too, should be 'disengaged' from his prison cell in North Carolina where he has been sitting for over 18 years."
Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz, who initiated today's ceremony, said, "We see that even terrorists and murderers have been released, and we ask Prime Minister Sharon, on his upcoming visit to the U.S., to request the release of Jonathan Pollard as well."
A-Sinara, a newspaper in the Israeli-Arab city of Nazareth, reported today that Israeli-Druze citizen Azzam Azzam might be on his way to freedom after eight years of imprisonment in Egypt. Israel has strenuously denied that Azzam was engaged in espionage on behalf of Israel. The paper reports, in the name of Israeli sources, that Azzam may be freed in an exchange for Egyptian prisoners held in Israel.