Pollard Push

From the Welcome to Washington column
by Seth Gitell
The Forward August 13, 1999

Rep. Anthony Weiner, a Democrat from New York, is leading the push to free convicted Israeli spy, Jonathan Pollard. Mr. Weiner is writing to Mr. Clinton to get him to grant clemency to Pollard. Mr. Clinton agreed to review Pollard's case last fall. No decision on Pollard has been announced. Some observers believe that Mr. Clinton may be more willing to free Pollard with Ehud Barak in power in Israel and the First Lady running for Senate from New York. Those political forces will not change the deep resistance in the intelligence and law enforcement communities to the freeing of Pollard.