The bill stipulates that the government must formulate a plan of action on behalf of Pollard and the fulfillment of its obligations towards him. The plan will include a request to the relevant US authorities towards opening negotiations for his release.
The proposal would obligate Israel's Ambassador in the U.S. to visit Pollard once every six months. The bill also calls for increasing public relations efforts on behalf of Pollard in the U.S., among the public, academia, pro-Israel sectors, and civil rights groups.
Once the law is passed, the Prime Minister will be obligated to report to the Knesset within 60 days on the progress made on behalf of Pollard. A Cabinet minister will be designated to be responsible for the plan, and he will report to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee once every three months.
The bill also mandates the establishment of a special 4.5 million shekel fund to cover all costs related to the Pollard effort.
The background information that always accompanies proposed legislation states that Pollard has been "wasting away for 18 years in American prison because of activities on behalf of the State of Israel - actions that did not lead to loss of life. He signed a plea-bargain agreement, admitted to having committed the crimes, and cooperated with his investigators. The prosecution promised not to ask for life imprisonment - but despite this, and following the intervention of American defense elements in the legal process, he was curiously sentenced to life in prison... According to accepted free-world standards, this punishment is exaggeratedly severe... Israel's actions taken on his behalf to date are not sufficient. A resolute working plan is required to determine areas of responsibility and ensure that the effort is ongoing and permanent until his release is achieved."
The other MKs who support the bill are Knesset Pollard lobby heads Orit Noked and Gilad Erdan, as well as Uri Ariel, Sha'ul Yahalom, and Aryeh Eldad.
The proposal would obligate Israel's Ambassador in the U.S. to visit Pollard once every six months. The bill also calls for increasing public relations efforts on behalf of Pollard in the U.S., among the public, academia, pro-Israel sectors, and civil rights groups.
Once the law is passed, the Prime Minister will be obligated to report to the Knesset within 60 days on the progress made on behalf of Pollard. A Cabinet minister will be designated to be responsible for the plan, and he will report to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee once every three months.
The bill also mandates the establishment of a special 4.5 million shekel fund to cover all costs related to the Pollard effort.
The background information that always accompanies proposed legislation states that Pollard has been "wasting away for 18 years in American prison because of activities on behalf of the State of Israel - actions that did not lead to loss of life. He signed a plea-bargain agreement, admitted to having committed the crimes, and cooperated with his investigators. The prosecution promised not to ask for life imprisonment - but despite this, and following the intervention of American defense elements in the legal process, he was curiously sentenced to life in prison... According to accepted free-world standards, this punishment is exaggeratedly severe... Israel's actions taken on his behalf to date are not sufficient. A resolute working plan is required to determine areas of responsibility and ensure that the effort is ongoing and permanent until his release is achieved."
The other MKs who support the bill are Knesset Pollard lobby heads Orit Noked and Gilad Erdan, as well as Uri Ariel, Sha'ul Yahalom, and Aryeh Eldad.