In the wake of news that Jonathan Pollard collapsed in prison and was taken to a hospital, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the United States to release the convicted spy for Israel.
Netanyahu called Secretary of State John Kerry on Dec. 6, a day after Pollard’s collapse.
“Pollard’s life is in danger,” Netanyahu said after the phone call. “After 30 years in prison, it’s time he should be released.”
Pollard reportedly will be returned to the infirmary of the federal prison in Butner, N.C., and will require surgery soon, the Jerusalem Post reported, citing activists working for Pollard’s release.
The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations also urged President Barack Obama to release Pollard following news of his collapse.
Pollard has been jailed since his arrest in 1985 for spying for Israel. He had surgery in March and has been hospitalized several times in recent years, mostly for kidney and liver problems.
The former civilian Navy analyst was sentenced to life in prison in 1987. Many former U.S. officials involved in his identification and prosecution now advocate for his release. — jta