DATE=12/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242916
TITLE=ISRAEL/POLLARD (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU PUBLICLY
APPEALED TO PRESIDENT CLINTON SUNDAY FOR THE RELEASE OF JONATHAN
POLLARD, THE FORMER U-S NAVY INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL CONVICTED 13
YEARS AGO OF SPYING FOR ISRAEL. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM
JERUSALEM.
TEXT: THE POLLARD CASE HAS BEEN A MAJOR SORE POINT IN U-S ISRAEL
RELATIONS. AND MR. NETANYAHU'S LAST MINUTE ATTEMPT TO GET HIS
RELEASE AT THE WYE RIVER SUMMIT IN OCTOBER NEARLY SCUTTLED THE
PEACE ACCORD REACHED WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND PALESTINIAN
LEADER YASSER ARAFAT.
THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER'S GAMBIT DREW CRITICISM FROM CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, WHO SAID THE ISSUE HAD NO PLACE IN THE
PEACE TALKS. BUT PRESIDENT CLINTON DID AGREE TO REVIEW THE CASE.
AT HIS JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE HERE WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON, MR.
NETANYAHU WENT TO SOME LENGTH TO CONDEMN POLLARD AND BY EXTENSION
THE ISRAELI OFFICIALS WHO TOOK PART IN THE SPY SCHEME, WHICH HE
CALLED INEXCUSABLE. BUT HE SAID POLLARD HAS SERVED A LONG AND
HARSH PRISON TERM AND SHOULD BE RELEASED NOW IN HUMANITARIAN
GROUNDS:
///NETANYAHU ACTUALITY///
IT IS NOT BASED ON EXONERATING MR. POLLARD. THERE IS NO
EXONERATION FOR HIM. IT IS MERELY THAT HE HAS BEEN
VIRTUALLY IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR 13 YEARS, IT'S A
VERY, VERY HEAVY SENTENCE. AND SINCE HE WAS SENT BY US
ON A MISTAKEN MISSION, NOT TO WORK AGAINST!THE UNITED
STATES, BUT NEVER-THE-LESS TO BREAK THE LAWS OF THE
UNITED STATES, WE HOPE THAT ON A PURELY HUMANITARIAN
APPEAL, A WAY WILL BE FOUND TO RELEASE HIM.
///END ACTUALITY///
SUCCESSIVE U-S ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE OPPOSED FREEING POLLARD. EVEN
MR. CLINTON'S OFFER TO REVIEW THE CASE PROVOKED CRITICISM, FROM
AMONG OTHERS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT WHO CALLED POLLARD
ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS TRAITORS IN U-S HISTORY.
AT THE JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE, THE PRESIDENT WAS NON-COMMITAL
ABOUT HOW THE POLLARD REVIEW MIGHT TURN OUT:
///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
WE HAVE INSTITUTED THIS REVIEW, WHICH I SAID IS
UNPRECEDENTED. WE ARE GIVING EVERYONE TIME TO PRESENT
THEIR COMMENTS, AND I WILL GET COMMENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF
THE ISSUE, EVALUATE IT AND MAKE A DECISION.
///END ACT///
POLLARD, A JEWISH AMERICAN AND FORMER U-S NAVY EMPLOYEE, IS
SERVING A LIFE TERM FOR PASSING THOUSANDS OF SECRET DOCUMENTS TO
ISRAEL ON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MILITARY CAPABILITIES OF IRAQ
AND OTHER STATES HOSTILE TO ISRAEL.
HIS CAUSE HAS BEEN TAKEN UP BY FAR-RIGHT ISRAELI PARTIES
INCLUDING MEMBERS OF PRIME MINISTER NETAYAHU'S COALITION, AND
DEMONSTRATIONS ON HIS BEHALF ARE BEING HELD HERE DURING THE
CLINTON VISIT. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/DW/WFR
13-Dec-98 11:13 AM EST (1613 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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