Report: Israel chief rabbi says Obama must free Pollard if he wants another term

[Scurrilous]

Yona Metzger tells congregants in a Shabbat sermon that Jews who voted for Obama are disappointed, and U.S. president should release Pollard as mark of good faith.

<snip>

"The Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger, told congregants in a Sabbath sermon that if U.S. President Barack Obama seeks reelection, he must release Jonathan Pollard, Israel Radio reported on Sunday.

In the sermon delivered at Yeshurun Synagogue in Jerusalem on Saturday, Metzger told said there was a feeling that many American Jews that had supported Obama in the last election were disappointed in him, in no small part because of Obama's indifference to Pollard.

A civilian employee for the United States Navy, Pollard was sentenced to life in prison in 1987 on charges of spying for Israel. He is incarcerated at a federal jail in North Carolina.

"If Obama wishes to dictate Israeli policy, he must show that he has mutual interests with Israel," Israel Radio quoted Metzger as saying. The rabbi reportedly added that these "mutual interests" should be shown through releasing Pollard."

more

[teabaghater]

1. Fuck Pollard

and stop funding Israel's occupation of Palestine!

[The Wielding Truth]

2. We could do a deal if they want him back. Peace with Palestine?

If life could be only be so simple?

[customerserviceguy]

3. The only reason Pollard's been kept alive

is for use as a future bargaining chip. If any US government can get to 97-99% of what Israel wants, they'll throw him into the deal to seal it.

[The Wielding Truth]

4. Have we killed any foreign spies lately while in our custody?

[customerserviceguy]

5. Pollard is not a foreign soldier

As an American citizen, he is subject to the penalties for treason, a subject which the Constitution specifically mentions. Other than American Jews, I can't imagine anyone other than the hard-core DP abolitionists who would have opposed executing him for his treason.

[hlthe2b]

6. It is this kind of arrogance...

that makes me spit nails at our Israeli policies. Time for the Likudists to stop expecting a blank check with no requirements.

[The Second Stone]

7. Make Pollard serve every day of his sentence

for treason.

[Dick Dastardly]

27. He wasnt convicted of treason but in any case I agree he should serve his whole sentence as should

all spies.

[oberliner]

8. I'm sure this will have a major impact on whether or not American Jews vote for Obama

Huge percentages of American Jews identified Pollard as one of their top issues when determining who to vote for for president.

Oh wait, pretty much none of them did.

[LeftishBrit]

9. That sounds very sensible. After all, it's obvious that at a time of recession and unemployment..

governors stamping on the right to strike; Republican congress members threatening to gut public services; the pale beginnings of the health service that America has waited for, for 60 years - and that being now under constant threat; American involvement in three wars; etc. etc....

that the ONLY thing that concerns American Jews in their voting choices is whether Pollard is in prison or not!

:sarcasm:

Well, I may be only a bloody foreigner, but that doesn't seem all that likely to me!

[mysuzuki2]

10. Does this Metzger get to vote in US elections?

if not, he should eat a double helping of STFU.

[hayu_lol]

11. Not much difference between this guy and the ...

Pat Robertson et al clique of fundy nutbags in our country.

[martymar64]

12. Who is he to dictate to us and make threats?

He should just mind his own fucking business.

[Ken Burch]

13. er...say WHAT?

n/t.

[Ken Burch]

14. Mordechai Vanunu needs to be freed too.

There was never any good reason for Israel to get the Bomb...and it was silly of them to pretend they didn't have it when everyone knows they do.

[oberliner]

15. He was released from prison seven years ago

Almost to the day.

[Ken Burch]

16. Then, they need to stop threatening to send him back and just leave the guy alone

He did no real wrong.

[azurnoir]

17. Yes he was released from prison 4 years ago here are the conditions of his release

Vanunu was released from prison on 21 April 2004. He indicated a desire to completely dissociate himself from Israel, initially refusing to speak in Hebrew, and planning to move to Europe or the US<34> as soon as the Israeli government would permit him to do so. Shortly before his scheduled release, Vanunu remained defiant under interrogation by the security service, Shin Bet. In recordings of the interview made public after his release, he is heard saying "I am neither a traitor nor a spy, I only wanted the world to know what was happening." He also said, "We don't need a Jewish state. There needs to be a Palestinian state. Jews can, and have lived anywhere, so a Jewish State is not necessary."<35> "Vanunu is a difficult and complex person. He remains stubbornly, admirably uncompromisingly true to his principles, is willing to pay the price", said Ha'aretz newspaper in 2008.<36>

A number of prohibitions were placed upon Vanunu after his release from jail and are still in force, in particular:

* he shall not be able to have contacts with citizens of other countries but Israel
* he shall not use phones
* he shall not own cellullar phones
* he shall not have access to the Internet
* he shall not approach or enter embassies and consulates
* he shall not come within 500 metres of any international border crossing
* he shall not visit any port of entry and airport
* he shall not leave the State of Israel

This page was last modified on 4 April 2011 at 20:43.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordechai_Vanunu

[oberliner]

18. I'm sure Pollard would take that deal

At least he gets to see his family.

[azurnoir]

19. In Israel? n/t

[oberliner]

20. Isn't that where his family lives?

Better go back to Wikipedia to find out!

[azurnoir]

21. well if that's true then the terms would not be the same would they?

Vanunu lives under virtual house arrest and can not travel internationally, so if Pollard were released under the same deal he would have to remain in the US

[oberliner]

22. There are no terms - Pollard is in prison - Vanunu is at home with his family

I'm sure Pollard would prefer the latter.

[azurnoir]

23. So you are claiming Vanunu was released without terms which is untrue

or that Pollard should be released without terms?

[oberliner]

24. Pollard not Vanunu

Pollard hasn't been released - Vanunu has.

Pollard would be prefer to not be in prison (as Vanunu) to his own situation, I would imagine.

[azurnoir]

25. well if Pollard were released under the same terms as Vanunu he would not be going to Israel

he would be staying right here watched day and night unable to have a cell phone....... but his family could see him as they can right now unless any of them are wanted in the US

[bemildred]

26. I dunno why, but this makes me think of Pat Robertson.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kC5MT2r5U8s/TR0APssNpyI/AAAAAAAARqc/lkrH1h8itZY/s1600/pat+robertson.jpg

[Crunchy Frog]

28. Either that or else kill Bin Laden.