Activists working on Pollard’s behalf charged the Ministry with insensitivity and expressed surprise that an Israeli news web site published a story about the request two weeks after Pollard’s mother-in-law died.
Pollard appealed to Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on July 12, requesting furlough to visit his wife's mother in Montreal. Pollard has not been allowed vacation from jail since he was sentenced to a life term 20 years ago.
Ministry spokeswoman Batsheva Genut Iluz confirmed that Shalom received the letter and directed Israel's Ambassador to America Danny Ayalon to request emergency leave for Pollard. "While this process was underway, unfortunately she died," Iluz said.
Jonathan Pollard’s wife Esther charged Israel with continuing to ignore efforts to secure a pardon for her husband. "There are no efforts," she said. "There never have been any. All that the government ever does is to plant lies in the media about their so-called 'efforts.' With their lies and profound disrespect to both the living and the dead, this government is trampling on my mother's grave."
The Pollards added that no one in the Foreign Ministry expressed condolences.
The Pollards were especially upset because the Ynet news site published on Tuesday a report about the Foreign Ministry's request even though Pollard's mother-in-law died on July 18.
Pollard appealed to Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on July 12, requesting furlough to visit his wife's mother in Montreal. Pollard has not been allowed vacation from jail since he was sentenced to a life term 20 years ago.
Ministry spokeswoman Batsheva Genut Iluz confirmed that Shalom received the letter and directed Israel's Ambassador to America Danny Ayalon to request emergency leave for Pollard. "While this process was underway, unfortunately she died," Iluz said.
Jonathan Pollard’s wife Esther charged Israel with continuing to ignore efforts to secure a pardon for her husband. "There are no efforts," she said. "There never have been any. All that the government ever does is to plant lies in the media about their so-called 'efforts.' With their lies and profound disrespect to both the living and the dead, this government is trampling on my mother's grave."
The Pollards added that no one in the Foreign Ministry expressed condolences.
The Pollards were especially upset because the Ynet news site published on Tuesday a report about the Foreign Ministry's request even though Pollard's mother-in-law died on July 18.