Israel minister: Pollard opposes release for talks

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By TIA GOLDENBERG

JERUSALEM (AP) - A hard-line Israeli Cabinet minister says convicted spy Jonathan Pollard opposes being freed from a U.S. jail in exchange for Palestinians prisoners.

Uri Ariel says people close to Pollard have told him that he opposes such a "shameful deal."

Ariel, from the hard-line Jewish Home party, spoke to Army Radio on Tuesday. He says he, too, is against the release of "murderers" for Pollard.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140401/DACT6D4G0.html

---

This May 15, 1998 file photo shows Jonathan Pollard speaking during an interview in a conference room at the Federal Correction Institution in Butner, N.C. An AP source says: the US is talking with Israel about early release of Pollard for concessions. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker, File)

[Jake Stern]

1. How rich - Israelis demanding the unconditional release of Pollard

while they're keeping onerous restrictions on Vanunu.

[marble falls]

3. Good point.

[MisterP]

9. impunity for me but not for thee--it's a little different in the US: we LOVE the fantasy of

"you touch a HAIR on an American's head and we will level your land!" but the reality is quite different

[marble falls]

2. Pollard does the right thing. But he still stays in prison. No deals.

[lostincalifornia]

5. It may be the right thing, but for the wrong reasons

[marble falls]

6. Could be, but its still the right thing. No trades. Though a trade for Vanunu might be worth the ...

thought.

[lostincalifornia]

4. First, that is made this public is a disgrace, and erases any good faith that the current Israeli

government is acting in good faith, does not exist.

Second, it should have never been offered. Leave him in prison.

If the past holds the republicans are even more hardline on this, and under the bush administration rejected any release of Pollard, which was tried.

So, the current Israeli government has now embarrassed themselves again. First they had Netanyahu coming to try to influence the American election, by involving himself in the last election, and now he tries to embarrass this administration by throwing out this discussion with the Secretary of State.

Just as his involvement in the U.S. elections backfired on him, this will also.

The Israelis had better pull their head out of their asses, and elect a more tolerant government

[kelliekat44]

7. I agree with you. And the text in the media makes me even more suspicious of this deal.

"The deal would not include a freeze on construction in Jewish settlements in the West Bank as the Palestinians have demanded but would envisage Israel committing to show "great restraint" and not issue new housing tenders."

You know this wishy-washy language gives everything to Israel and very little to the Palestinians...and history has shown that Israel cannot be trusted.

[lostincalifornia]

8. one has to be skeptical of the MSM today, and as we have learned the press is not always the most

reliable in their reporting. Example, "Gabby Gifford killed, the ACA was determined unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, Romney would win the election...", etc. etc. etc.

Unfortunately, this might have some credibility since the Israeli press is reporting it also

[mysuzuki2]

10. And why exactly should the US release a convicted criminal

in exchange for Israel doing something in its own self-interest? I am making no statement about whether Pollard should or should not be released, but why should there be a quid pro quo here?

[1000words]

11. LOL ... Mr. Pollard has lofty ideals and standards, eh?

Fine, rot in jail.