Pollard Supporters Oppose "Burial" Of Issue

Arutz7 - Monday September 6, 2004

The Knesset is holding a special mid-recess session today - called for the purpose of discussing the continued incarceration of Jonathan Pollard.

A group of Pollard supporters said it would protest this afternoon outside the Knesset, holding shovels to symbolize the way in which the Knesset continues to "bury" the issue. They fear that today, as well, Pollard will be "buried" under a series of empty slogans and no action. As proof, the Pollard sympathizers provide the following excerpts from past Knesset sessions:

On March 4, 2003, Minister Gideon Ezra said in the name of the government: "MK Michael Eitan has raised an issue that is important and painful for the State of Israel. MK Michael Eitan is right; this issue is mentioned in the government platform. The issue of Jonathan Pollard is under the appropriate treatment of official elements of the State of Israel, and is being dealt with in several planes. The Prime Minister even raised the issue in talks with senior American Administration officials. The government is of the opinion that in order for this to succeed, we must maintain total discretion, and therefore I suggest that we suffice with what you said and with what I said, and to allow the government to continue its handling of this very very important issue, in order that Jonathan Pollard come home to us quickly. Thank you."

On June 4, 2003, in response to another Pollard motion by MK Eitan, Ezra again spoke on behalf of the government and said, "MK Michael Eitan, I think that what you're doing is good, that you once again raise this issue. Since the formation of this government, the subject of Pollard has been on the Knesset agenda several times. Because of the secrecy of the issue, my answer remains the same. The issue of Jonathan Pollard is under the appropriate treatment of official elements of the State of Israel, and is being dealt with in several planes. The Prime Minister even raised the issue in talks with senior American Administration officials."

MK Eitan: "When?"

Minister Ezra: "My friend, I told you before. Because of the secrecy of the issue, I do not intend to provide further information. The government is of the opinion that in order for this to succeed, we must maintain total discretion. Regarding the point of the issue, I suggest that we suffice with this statement, and the fact that you have raised the issue is certainly known. Thank you."

On Nov. 25, 2003, Gideon Ezra again responded in the name of the government: "...This is not the first time this subject is raised here in the Knesset. I have stated several times the government position on this matter. I say to you, the efforts for Pollard's release are ongoing on secret and revealed planes. Don't make light of this, and don't make light of these words. I don't know everything and you don't know everything. There are other things..."

Arutz-7's Ruti Avraham reports that one Pollard supporter told her, "It's very hard to respond to the claim of secret action that they can't talk about. But we can learn about their existence or lack thereof from the non-secret actions - the fact that the Israeli Ambassador has not been sent to visit him, and the petitions that Sharon made sure not to bring to Bush. These are just some of the examples that leave no room for doubt as to the lack of seriousness of the government in its 'struggle' to return Jonathan Pollard home."

Pollard himself wrote to IDF Chief Rabbi Yisrael Weiss last week, asking him to visit him "as soon as possible before Yom Kippur." He explained the importance and great value of prayers during this "month of Elul, a time of great spiritual sensitivity for all the Jewish People [when G-d] draws close to hear our prayers." Pollard further wrote that the commandment of "redeeming the captives" is "so precious to G-d that it devolves upon every single Jew, without exception. G-d forbid that any Jew should come to sin because of me. G-d forbid that any Jew be punished because he unknowingly ignored [this commandment.] Finally, Pollard wrote, "Heaven, we are taught, holds those in a position of leadership to stricter account. Jewish leaders are held responsible for the sins of the [community] if they fail to do everything in their power to educate the People and exhort them to fulfill their religious obligations."