Jonathan Pollard, who was convicted of spying for Israel in 1985 and is serving a life sentence, was removed Aug. 2 from a federal prison in Butner, N.C., and taken to a civilian hospital to undergo surgery.
A day later, he was recovering after successful procedure, according to his wife, Esther. She told the Jerusalem Post on Aug. 3 that her husband was “conscious and aware” for what she said was “urgent” surgery having to do with his kidneys and gall bladder. She also said the surgery was a “temporary fix.”
Pollard has been in poor health for awhile; Esther came from Israel to North Carolina to be near him during the procedure.
Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren visited Pollard in prison last week. Pollard called on Oren to seek his release from President Barack Obama.
Pollard was not allowed to visit his father on his death bed or to attend his father’s funeral earlier this summer, despite appeals from Israeli officials and supporters. — jta