Convicted spy for Israel Jonathan Pollard was undergoing observation in a hospital after collapsing in his jail cell.
Pollard collapsed Dec. 1 at the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, N.C., after complaining of serious pain for several weeks.
He is receiving pain medication, the Committee to Bring Jonathan Pollard Home said in a statement, and doctors will decide on further medical intervention after consultations.
“Because of his long years of incarceration under harsh conditions (including seven years in solitary confinement), inadequate nutrition, and inadequate medical care, Jonathan is suffering from numerous medical conditions,” the statement said. “The compounded effect of these multiple medical issues is wreaking havoc on his overall health and threatening his ability to survive.”
Pollard has had a variety of illnesses since being imprisoned for life in 1986 after accepting a plea bargain for spying for Israel while working as a civilian analyst for the Navy.
The calls to release Pollard have intensified in recent months, with requests from lawmakers and former top officials of both political parties. — jta