Supporters of Jonathan Pollard are continuing their efforts to finally bring him to freedom on several fronts. A rally was held this week outside the Prime Minister's Residence, with prominent MKs and other speakers demanding justice for the Israeli agent who is now in the 19th year of his prison sentence in the United States.
In addition, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu - Israel's former Chief Rabbi - visited Pollard this past week once again in his prison cell in North Carolina. Rabbi Eliyahu has long been a source of spiritual support and guidance for Pollard, and even volunteered in the past to make a personal entreaty to U.S. President George Bush on Pollard's behalf. Prime Minister Sharon, however, turned down the idea.
On the legal front, American supporters are asked to send a letter to their Senators and Congressmen regarding Pollard's right to appeal a decision compromising his basic rights. The letter explains that "Mr. Pollard's life sentence was the direct result of deprivations of his constitutional rights to due process and effective assistance of counsel" - yet the U.S. Government refuses to allow a motion for re-sentencing because he "waited too long." According to the Government, the letter states, "Mr. Pollard must spend the rest of his life in prison because he should have realized earlier that he has a meritorious basis for vacating his sentence on constitutional grounds." The letter then asks that moral pressure be exerted on Attorney-General John Ashcroft to direct the U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C. to consent to have the issue go to the Court of Appeals.
The letter, which can be seen on the Pollard website, also asks that Ashcroft be pressured to acknowledge that Pollard's lawyers have a "need to know" what is in their client's court docket.
In addition, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu - Israel's former Chief Rabbi - visited Pollard this past week once again in his prison cell in North Carolina. Rabbi Eliyahu has long been a source of spiritual support and guidance for Pollard, and even volunteered in the past to make a personal entreaty to U.S. President George Bush on Pollard's behalf. Prime Minister Sharon, however, turned down the idea.
On the legal front, American supporters are asked to send a letter to their Senators and Congressmen regarding Pollard's right to appeal a decision compromising his basic rights. The letter explains that "Mr. Pollard's life sentence was the direct result of deprivations of his constitutional rights to due process and effective assistance of counsel" - yet the U.S. Government refuses to allow a motion for re-sentencing because he "waited too long." According to the Government, the letter states, "Mr. Pollard must spend the rest of his life in prison because he should have realized earlier that he has a meritorious basis for vacating his sentence on constitutional grounds." The letter then asks that moral pressure be exerted on Attorney-General John Ashcroft to direct the U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C. to consent to have the issue go to the Court of Appeals.
The letter, which can be seen on the Pollard website, also asks that Ashcroft be pressured to acknowledge that Pollard's lawyers have a "need to know" what is in their client's court docket.