Jonathan Pollard won't survive another year of U.S. jail, wife says

[Scurrilous]

In statement released by campaign for convicted Israeli spy's freedom 26 years into his sentence, Esther Pollard claims medical complications were preventing her husband from accepting visits, making phone calls.

<snip>

"Jonathan Pollard's medical condition won't enable him to survive through another year of jail, his wife was quoted as saying in a statement on Monday, 26 years into the convicted Israeli spy's prison sentence.

Pollard, who was convicted of espionage for Israel and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1986, has been suffering from many medical complications in his gallbladder and kidneys, undergoing an emergency operation in August of this year.

In a statement released by the campaign for Pollard's release, Esther Pollard expressed fears that her husband could die as a result of his medical complications, saying: "I'm afraid he won't be able to survive another year of this."

"In the last few months it has happened often that he could not garner enough strength to get to the phone and use the few minutes he has to contact the outside world. He has terrible kidney complications that are causing him excruciating pain," Pollard said, adding after "26 years all his systems are feeble and we both know that the next emergency hospitalization or operation are just a matter a time, and that no one is promising us he'll make it through."

The convicted Israeli spy's wife also commented on her husband's inability to accept visitors in prison, saying that in "the past we would arrange a visit for anyone who could possibly do something to advance his release, as soon as we settled things as far as prison protocol goes."

"In the last year, as Jonathan's (medical) condition became worse he was too weak to even sit through a one-hour visit. I feel he's withering away in front of my very eyes," Pollard said."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/jonathan-pollard-won-t-survive-another-year-of-u-s-jail-wife-says-1.396869

[DURHAM D]

I'm sorry but am I supposed to care?

[BeenThereDoneThat]

12. Depends

Do you have any humanity in your being?

[bluestateguy]

1. Obama is going to set him free

Just watch.

It will be to shut up those cackling that Obama does not support Israel.

By Labor Day next year. Just watch.

[Jumping John]

2. Maybe the Rabbis in Israel could pray for Pollard to be cured of

his ailments and then his sentence can be longer.

[HereSince1628]

3. I think his medical needs are and will be well looked after.

His being ill doesn't do anything toward changing my mind about his incarceration. Thousands of us held and honored the responsibilities associated with our clearances.

It's not that the secrets are well beyond their being important...they are.

It's that traitorous acts can't be tolerated, especially among allies.

[MADem]

4. Oh, well. He should have thought of all that before he decided to spy.

Baretta said it--Don't do the crime if you can't do the time!

Of course, he got away with it--he didn't do any time for killing his wife, he just got nailed in a civil judgment!

[atreides1]

5. Change his mind did he?

I guess Israel isn't worth dying for after all! I'm sorry I forgot he was being paid for the information, had nothing to do with his love of Israel!

The Israelis can bury him as a hero if they want...but he stays in prison until that time.

[Itchinjim]

6. Tough shit.

[vminfla]

7. Bradley Manning has a similar fate to look forward to

Upon his incarceration, Manning will spend the rest of his life in prison.

[aranthus]

8. If he was justly convicted and sentenced, then his medical condition is irrelevant.

I didn't want the Lockerbie bomber released for medical reasons, and I don't think they are relevant here. The real issue is whether his conviction and punishment were just and fair. If he can't make that case, then he deserves to stay in prison.

[Scurrilous]

9. 1000s call White House on Pollard arrest anniversary

Int'l campaign for Israeli agent's release puts out ads asking supporters to urge Obama to commute his sentence on 26th anniversary of his arrest.

<snip>

"Thousands of Americans and Israelis called the White House Monday to request US President Barack Obama commute the life sentence of Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard on the 26th anniversary of his arrest.

In advertisements published in the US, Israel and France, the international campaign for Pollard’s release called upon people to “join dozens of senior American officials in urging Obama to commute Pollard’s sentence.” The Israeli ads included a local number that reaches the White House.

The push for Pollard’s release has intensified in recent days, because American presidents traditionally grant pardons and clemency to a select group of prisoners as an act of goodwill between Thanksgiving and Christmas."

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=246482

[King_David]

10. .

:thumbsup:

[Dick Dastardly]

11. Tough shit. n/t