Israel pushing for spy Jonathan Pollard to come home after U.S. release

Jonathan Pollard, the Navy intelligence analyst whose 1985 arrest for selling secrets to Israel set off a sensational spy saga, is scheduled to be released from federal prison next week. (AP / Karl DeBlaker)

WASHINGTON -- The arrest of Jonathan Pollard for spying for Israel touched off one of the most sensational spy cases in recent American history, stoking fierce international passions and decades of legal and diplomatic wrangling.

Thirty years later, Pollard, 60, has been granted parole from his life sentence by the U.S. Parole Commission, which set his release for Nov. 21.

In some ways the dispute continues. His lawyers say they will ask President Barack Obama for clemency and to allow Pollard to travel from the United States to Israel. The White House dismisses that prospect, saying Pollard had committed "very serious crimes" and would serve his sentence under the law.

"We are looking forward to his release," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

The Pollard case has been a divisive political flashpoint -- and an occasional diplomatic bargaining chip -- from the day in 1985 he was arrested while trying to gain asylum at the Israeli Embassy in Washington.

Supporters have seen the former Navy intelligence analyst as a martyr who was punished excessively given that he spied for a longtime U.S. ally. But critics, including many in the U.S. government, have condemned the American as a traitor who exchanged secrets for money.

"He took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and he failed it," said M.E. "Spike" Bowman, a former FBI deputy general counsel. "The fact that he gave it to an ally, that makes absolutely no difference to me. I'm glad that it was an ally rather than the Russians, but what he did makes absolutely no difference."

Even as many American Jews have wrestled with how much leniency he should get, Israelis have long campaigned for his freedom. The government there has recognized him as an Israeli agent and granted him citizenship. Still, recent American presidents have rejected overtures to free him, with former President Bill Clinton writing in his memoir that Pollard's release "was a hard case" to push.

Said Netanyahu, in Israel, "Throughout his time in prison, I consistently raised the issue of his release in my meetings and conversations with the leadership of successive U.S. administrations."

"Immense joy," Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked wrote in Hebrew on her Facebook page, adding that "30 years of suffering will come to an end this November."

The U.S. had dangled the prospect of Pollard's release during Israel-Palestinian talks last year, but the peace efforts collapsed and nothing came of the proposal.

Though the decision was announced just weeks after the U.S.-Iran nuclear deal, White House officials strongly denied that Pollard's release had anything to do with that agreement, or that was it was intended as a concession to Israel. Officials there have said that while they would welcome the release, it would not ease their opposition to the Iran agreement.

The Justice Department, for its part, noted that federal sentencing rules in place at the time of Pollard's prosecution entitled him to parole after 30 years of his life sentence. Department lawyers did not contest his parole bid, which was granted following a hearing this month before the Parole Commission. He was presumptively entitled to parole provided he had a record of good behaviour in prison and was seen as unlikely to commit future crimes once released.

His lawyers say they have secured housing and a job for Pollard in the New York area. Parolees are required for five years after their release to get government permission for foreign travel.

Israel's deputy foreign minister said Wednesday that Israel is making "very great efforts" to lobby for Pollard to be alllowed to travel to Israel after his release. Tsipi Hotovely told Israeli Army Radio that Israel has a moral responsibility to push for Pollard to come to Israel. Pollard received Israeli citizenship in prison.

Pollard has faced health problems in recent years. He is being held in the federal prison in Butner, North Carolina. His lawyers said he was "looking forward to being reunited with his beloved wife, Esther."

Pollard's wife, Esther, welcomed the news of his impending release in an emotional statement to the press.

"I can hardly wait," Pollard said, choking back tears. "I'm counting the days, the hours, the minutes, the seconds until I can take him into my arms and we can close the door on the past behind us, to begin to heal and to rebuild our lives."

Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Deb Riechmann in Washington and Ian Deitch and Miriam Berger in Jerusalem contributed to this report.