Netanyahu to Obama: We Erred Severely When We Spied on the U.S.

Prime Minister Netanyahu issued an official request to President Obama to pardon Jonathan Pollard. The contents of the letter have aroused bleak thoughts.

Washington will indeed discuss Prime Minister Netanyahu’s request to grant a pardon to the Jewish-American spy, Jonathan Pollard. Pollard, who is currently serving a life sentence, has so far been in prison for 25 years.

Israeli government officials have been trying to bring up the issue of Jonathan Pollard for years. The White House has acknowledged this appeal, and, as in the past, this request has been met with the generic vapid refrain, “The matter will be examined.” It has been unofficially declared, however, that the U.S. will not relinquish Pollard unless Israel makes a concession of its own. The U.S. would like to see a sincere willingness on the part of Israel to come to the negotiating table and make a genuine peace with the Palestinians and, in due course, agree on a viable two-state solution.

Inyan Merkazi has published Prime Minister Netanyahu’s letter to President Obama, in its entirety; it includes Israel's apology for spying on America — an allied country — and an assurance from Netanyahu that U.S.-Israeli relations will never be undermined like this again.

The letter reads:

Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of the people of Israel, I am writing to you to request clemency for Jonathan Pollard.

At the time of his arrest, Jonathan Pollard was acting as an agent of the Israeli government. Even though Israel was in no way directing its intelligence efforts against the United States, its actions were wrong and wholly unacceptable. Both Mr. Pollard and the Government of Israel have repeatedly expressed remorse for these actions, and Israel will continue to abide by its commitment that such wrongful actions will never be repeated.

As you know, Mr. President, I have raised the question of Jonathan Pollard’s release numerous times in discussions with your administration and with previous U.S. administrations. Previous Israeli Prime Ministers and Presidents have also requested clemency for Mr. Pollard from your predecessors.

Since Jonathan Pollard has now spent 25 years in prison, I believe that a new request for clemency is highly appropriate. I know that this view is also shared by former senior American officials with knowledge of the case as well as by numerous members of Congress.

Jonathan Pollard has reportedly been in prison longer than any person convicted of similar crimes, and longer than the period requested by the prosecutors at the time of his plea bargain agreement. Jonathan has suffered greatly for his actions and his health has deteriorated considerably.

I know that the United States is a country based on fairness, justice and mercy. For all these reasons, I respectfully ask that you favorably consider this request for clemency. The people of Israel will be eternally grateful.

Sincerely yours,

Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu was under tremendous pressure in recent weeks to send this letter and to submit an official appeal asking the Obama administration to pardon Pollard. This latest attempt at freeing Pollard was due, in large part, to reports published by U.S. military officials stating that the extent of the damage caused by Pollard was not as severe as previously perceived.