By Dovid Efune – Algemeiner.com
The U.S. Department of Justice is seriously considering the release of Jonathan Pollard later on this year, a source with knowledge of the matter revealed to The Algemeiner on Friday.
Pollard, who was jailed in 1987 after he admitted to passing classified information to Israel, would be released on Nov. 21 when he is eligible for parole, according to the source, who did not wish to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.
The release would come at the 30th anniversary of his arrest and amid a number of reports in recent years of his ill health and hospitalization. Pollard will be 61 years old on Aug. 7 and is being held at a federal prison in Butner, N.C.
The source stressed that the release is not connected in any way to the Iran nuclear deal announced this week on Tuesday, which has been a major source of tension between the U.S. and Israel.
There will be “no special exemptions,” the source said.
Last November, a group campaigning for the release of Pollard said a parole board denied a request to free him after American officials said the release would send the wrong message, The Times of Israel reported. At the time, the group said it would release information pointing to the White House’s attempts to prevent Pollard from going free, according to the report.
Pollard canceled a parole board hearing at the last minute in April 2014 amid reports that his release could be secured as part of a political deal at the time to salvage U.S.-brokered peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, The Times of Israel said.
Pollard is believed to be the only American ever to receive a life sentence for passing classified information to an ally of the United States. Israeli officials, American and Israeli activist groups, and American politicians who see his punishment as unfair have lobbied continuously for a reduction or commutation of his sentence.
I hope he will be released together with Shalom Rubashkin-SHalom Mordechai Halevi ben Rivkah
Yonatan ben Malka
His name is Yehonosan ben Malka
BH MAY HE BE RELEASED NOW!!!!
LONG OVERDUE!!!!!
RUBASHKIN ALSO SHOULD BE RELEASE NOW POSHUT A BLOOD LIBEL
he won’t be released unless he has something that prevents him from communicating , that’s why he hasn’t been released til now
This isn’t posted on any Israeli news site….
Or even on the times of Israel.
Whats this “reliable source”?
Much too little much too late and see them dragging it out. But we need to bless H-shem nonetheless. May he have a yeshuah and refuah shelaima immediately.
The U.S. Was going to give Iran everything anyways … So yeh I will take this as a consolation prize and Afew more
( rubashkin ) pls!
Yonasan ben Malka and his kapitel is 61 until 8 Av
That’s the name
The U.S. hands Iran everything they wanted and Israel gets Polard back
Wow! Why am I not impressed?
It is sad that our community has made a hero out of such a person. We have defied his crimes, his attitude and his criminal behavior. Now, we have a president that actively seeks to harm us and our brethren in Israel. And, to pacify us, he invites delegates to the White House, giving them opportunity to display their personal importance and kavod. In reality, its a shameless political ploy to manipulate the community, and we keep falling for it. So, now we get Pollard, and the Iranians get missiles. Good trade. Either the leaders of Chabad and the frum… Read more »
What’s his mother’s name: I say for Yehonoson Halevi ben Plonis.
Please, Hashem, let him Finally get released. Criminals with blood on their hands have not served such a long time…
BS”D
YES, GOOD BIG news
Next Sholom Rubaskin after, or sooner
It’s about time!His sentence was more severe
than a spy got for spying for Russia.
This is another Dreyfuss case.
Free Pollard Now!
It’s long overdue it’s time already.
What about Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin?
May we see the Geula Hashleimo Vehaamitis before the day is out.
Let’s pray he’ll be released at least by then. Hopefully earlier would be even nicer and just.