Clinton suggests swapping Golan for
Pollard
Pollard: Washington Sets New Price for Pollard News Flash ! July 20, 1999
[New York] When pressed, following a Sunday 18/07/99 meeting with select members of the
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Prime Minister Barak
admitted that he had not raised the Pollard issue in his talks with President Clinton,
contradicting earlier press statements by his Jerusalem office.
Echoing the words of White House spokesman Joe Lockhart who previously stated that he
does not anticipate a decision on Pollard in the foreseeable future, Barak indicated that
he does not intend to raise the Pollard issue with Clinton in the foreseeable future
either .
A close advisor to the Prime Minister has confirmed to individuals close to the Pollard
case that there is a tacit understanding between Messrs. Barak and Clinton that Pollard
will be returned to Israel as a "consolation prize" following a full and
unqualified Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights - again this contradicts Mr. Barak's
current public position on yet another critical issue, namely the terms of withdrawal from
the Golan Heights.
An American official involved in formulating the deal, speaking on condition of
anonymity, confirmed Mr. Clinton's offer to swap Pollard for a total withdrawal of Israeli
forces and installations from the Golan.
The official further indicated that Mr. Clinton feels no obligation to honor the
commitment he made to the former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to release Mr. Pollard
as part of the implementation of the Wye Accords, concurrent with the freeing of
Palestinian terrorists. Clinton has now set a new price for Pollard.
Participants at the Sunday meeting indicated that Prime Minister Barak dodged direct
questions on whether or not he had raised the issue of Pollard's release in his talks with
President Clinton. Instead, they said, he obliquely assured his audience that Pollard has
been in prison long enough; that he deserves to be returned to Israel; and that his
government is fully committed to securing Pollard's return.
Pollard sick
ARUTZ7 7/18/99: "Jonathan Pollard's health is deteriorating. Serving a life
sentence in a Butner, North Carolina prison for spying on behalf of Israel, Pollard was
taken last week to Duke University Hospital for a CAT-Scan. Shackled in chains, Pollard
was transported in a convoy of three armed vehicles, accompanied by eleven Special
Operations guards in full combat gear. Pollard continues to suffer from extreme physical
symptoms related to unbiopsied growths in his sinus cavities, and complains of nausea,
dizziness, and blinding headaches.
In an interview with Arutz-7's Ron Meir last Thursday night, Pollard's wife Esther said
that she was "disappointed and heartbroken that we have not had contact with the
Barak government. We are hoping that this is a forgivable lapse, but we are flying in the
dark at this point - and that is not fair after 14 years of incarceration on behalf of the
State of Israel."
Mrs. Pollard also confirmed Binyamin Netanyahu's claim that in the hours preceding the
signing of the Wye Accord, President Clinton executed a "double-cross" when he
suddenly backed down on his explicit commitment to free Pollard in exchange for
Netanyahu's signature on the Wye Accord. "Mr. Netanyahu's account is 100%
correct," she said. "We were able to verify it at the time, and not just from
the Israeli side, but from both sides of the table."
Meanwhile, Middle East News Line (MENL) reported on Friday that President Clinton
"seems to have dismissed the effort of Prime Minister Ehud Barak" to win
Pollard's release. White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said that the President has
commissioned a panel to examine the Pollard case, and that it is still deliberating.
Lockhart said that the panel had collected information, but that "no final
recommendation has been forwarded to the President, [nor do I ] expect that recommendation
to be forwarded in the near future." MENL reported that Barak will not seek Pollard's
release, but rather a commitment from Clinton to reduce Pollard's sentence..."
Esther Pollard: Disappointed and
Heartbroken
Esther Pollard: "Disappointed and Heartbroken"
Excerpt from Arutz7 Interview with Esther Pollard - July 18, 1999
From: Pollard
In an interview with Arutz-7's Ron Meir last Thursday night, Pollard's wife Esther said
that she was "disappointed and heartbroken that we have not had contact with the
Barak government. We are hoping that this is a forgivable lapse, but we are flying in the
dark at this point - and that is not fair after 14 years of incarceration on behalf of the
State of Israel."
Mrs. Pollard also confirmed Binyamin Netanyahu's claim that in the hours preceding the
signing of the Wye Accord, President Clinton executed a "double-cross" when he
suddenly backed down on his explicit commitment to free Pollard in exchange for
Netanyahu's signature on the Wye Accord. "Mr. Netanyahu's account is 100%
correct," she said. "We were able to verify it at the time, and not just from
the Israeli side, but from both sides of the table."
Pollard: White House Bag of Tricks:
Now You See It! Now You Don't!
Pollard: White House Bag of Tricks:
Now You See It! Now You Don't!
Media Release July 17, 1999
RE: "NO PROGRESS ON POLLARD RELEASE" July 16, 1999 [Middle East News Line]
Copy of Article Follows Below
1) The President's so-called panel to decide the Pollard case referenced in the article
below represents a bizarre turn of events. The President never appointed a panel and
didn't have one until White House spokesman Joe Lockhart pulled one out of a hat
yesterday. This last-minute invention of a mysterious panel gives the President cover to
keep the wheels of this case spinning without resolution for as long as he needs to in
order to fulfill political objectives.
2) Remember, it was the President himself who pledged at Wye to review the case by
himself and to personally decide Pollard's fate . Consequently, the only one who has
called for and received recommendations is the President himself. And of course, only one
who is empowered to make a decision is the President himself.
3) Remember also, the only submissions and recommendations that the President has
sought on this case have been from those agencies or voices with vested interests in
prolonging the incarceration of Jonathan Pollard.
4) Be aware and beware: there is mention in the article that P.M. Barak is not seeking
Pollard's release, only a commitment to reduce the sentence. This is a device that would
likely guarantee that Jonathan would never get out of prison - or at least not for many
years- but that Barak could still claim a victory, and Clinton would never have to deal
with the issue again in his term of office.
5) Whatever is going on here is certainly not about justice and does not reflect the
President's generous promise to Israel: "For more than half a century the US has
stood proudly with the State of Israel... Now, as you walk bravely down the path of peace,
we will walk with you, helping in any way we can." - US President Bill Clinton.
Clinton dismisses Barak's effort for
Pollard
NO PROGRESS ON POLLARD RELEASE July 16, 1999 MENL
WASHINGTON, [MENL] -- President Bill Clinton appears to have dismissed the effort of
Prime Minister Ehud Barak to win the release of Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard.
A White House spokesman said Clinton is not expected to receive any recommendation soon
on the fate of Pollard, who is serving a life sentence for passing U.S. intelligence
reports to Israel.
White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said Clinton's panel to examine the Pollard case is
still deliberating. "They have collected information, but no final recommendation has
been forwarded to the president," he said. "And as I think I said yesterday, I
don't expect that recommendation to be forwarded in the near future."
Earlier, a senior Barak aide said the prime minister would raise the Pollard issue
during his talks on Thursday with Clinton. After the meeting, a source close to Barak said
he will not seek Pollard's release. Instead, the prime minister aims to win a commitment
from Clinton to reduce Pollard's sentence.
The source said Barak will appeal for Pollard's release on humanitarian grounds, citing
his ill health and more than 13 years in prison. Pollard was sentence to life after a
judge dismissed a plea bargain arrangement.
It was the first time since Barak's election on May 17 that the prime minister raised
the prospect of Pollard's release. During the election campaign, Barak refused to sign an
appeal to Clinton for Pollard's release. Barak said such a move would only hurt Pollard's
chances for release.
Last year, Clinton announced he would conduct a review of the Pollard case. No results
were announced but Pollard's attorneys said they were refused a meeting with White House
staffers to discuss his imprisonment.
Aides to then-Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Clinton had pledged to release
Pollard during the Wye River negotiations in October. On the last day of the talks, they
said, the U.S. president said he could not fulfill that promise.
CAT Scan for Pollard after 7 years of
request
Justice for Jonathan Pollard Update on Pollard's Health
From: Pollard (Justice for Jonathan Pollard)
Date: Friday, July 16, 1999
Jonathan Pollard was taken to Duke University Medical Hospital this past week for a CAT
scan. He was transported in a convoy of 3 armed vehicles, accompanied by 11 Special
Operations guards in full combat gear, including helmets, bullet proof vests and machine
guns. Pollard was shackled in chains hand and foot. The spectacle of a bearded man wearing
a kipa, bound in chains and accompanied by a heavily-armed task force not only lent
credence to the picture that the US government has painted of Jonathan Pollard as
"very dangerous" but also terrified staff and patients at the hospital who had
no idea of who he was or why he was brought to Duke under such heavy guard.
Results of the CAT scan are not yet known. Pollard continues to suffer from extreme
physical symptoms related to unbiopsied growths in his sinus cavities. Nausea, dizziness,
and blinding headaches, are daily symptoms. He has until now been unable to secure
appropriate medical treatment or adequate pain relief.
Justice for Jonathan Pollard expresses thanks to Congressman Jerold Nadler and Rabbi
Pessach Lerner of Young Israel for their assistance in securing the CAT scan that Pollard
has been denied for 7 years. It is hoped that following the results of the CAT scan, their
continued involvement and assistance will enable Pollard to finally receive appropriate
medical attention.
Additionally, Jonathan Pollard recently spent some time under observation in the FCI
Butner prison clinic unable to move because of a back injury. Prison doctors did not have
the massive clearances from Washington needed to take him to Duke for immediate emergency
treatment by an orthopedic doctor, (as they would have been able to do for any other
prisoner). He was ultimately released back to his cell and continues to be monitored. He
is slowly recovering and is able to walk again.
Post Script: Friends of Jonathan Pollard are instructed to address all further
inquiries pertaining to this message to the Justice for Jonathan Pollard office.
Justice for Jonathan Pollard
Tel 416-781-3571 Fax 416- 781-3166
Email [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.interlog.com/~abrooke/jp
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