Posted on 04/15/2006 4:31:49 PM PDT by Sabramerican
Report: US to release Pollard in Barghouti swap deal JPost.com Staff, THE JERUSALEM POST Apr. 16, 2006
Officials in Jerusalem claimed on Saturday that the US would free imprisoned Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard in exchange for Israel releasing jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti.
According to Army Radio, Israel is set to offer the proposed prisoner swap deal in the next few months, following the unfolding anarchy in the Palestinian Authority. Seemingly, Israel intends to use Barghouti's release to strengthen the Fatah movement against the background of the much criticized rule of the new Hamas-led Palestinian government.
In 2004 Israel suggested a similar move but the initiative was rejected by the US government. Jerusalem officials predict that on this occasion the White House will accept the proposal.
Pollard, a former Mossad agent, was convicted of selling US military secrets to Israel, while he worked at the Defense Department's Pentagon headquarters. He was arrested in 1985 and pleaded guilty to the espionage charges. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, and has been incarcerated in a US jail for the past 21 years.
The Israeli government denied for years that Pollard was its spy but finally acknowledged it in 1998.
Various prime ministers have since made efforts to secure a pardon for Pollard, none of which have been successful.
If this occurs:
Can Israel get any more disgusting?
Can Bush get any more disgusting?
Pollard should be hung.
Agreed. If the Republicans wish to make their upcoming minority in both houses a HUGE one.
What is Bush doing?
Simple ... he is not concerned about re-election.
This was floated last week and the article said the release would happen "tomorrow". We can all see how that didn't happen and I wouldn't be too concerned that this article is true either.
This is insane. Pollard was a spy and should not be freed, and Barghouti is an insane terrorist murderer and most certainly should not be freed under any circumstances. I can't believe this is even being discussed. I think our leaders are crazy.
This can't be real.
If it sounds too good or too bad to be true it' probably isn't.
I agree with you...I have to wait and watch on this...it doesn't pass the smell test.
In WWI, Germany was responsible for sending Vladimir Ilyich Lenin back into Russia. They intended, of course, to destabilize the Tsar's regime.
They got something more than they bargained for...
Sounds like BS. That, or the State Department is operating like normal.
One more question. Is there a grain of truth in any of this?
"Officials in Jerusalem claimed on Saturday that the US would free imprisoned Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard in exchange for Israel releasing jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti."
That's a helluva an equivalence to make....
How odd. The people who should know better than others not to trust the MSM seem to do so every darn time, no matter how wild the accusation.
This is one of the reason I favor the death penalty for traitors and spies.
To make my position clear.
I believe Pollard should be released. He has served more then appropriate time for his offense the real offense not the fiction that has grown around him fed by malicious sources).
The US has refused to release him under any entreat.
But Bush so loves the "Palestinians" that even Pollard is worth releasing a terrorist murderer.
And the Olmert Government is so depraved that it will make such a trade.
First Esther Pollard and now this.
"IF" true, it seems Israel is pressing for it.
I couldn't agree more.
What, quite frankly, does the UNITED STATES get out of this reported idiotic exchange? Appalling.
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