The latest reports from Israeli Channel 2 say that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is going to hold up the peace talks with the Palestinians, conditioning them on the US agreeing to free convicted spy Jonathan Pollard.
The US-born Pollard was convicted of stealing classified material on behalf of Israel, and remains in prison. Israel granted him citizenship several years into his prison term and has since demanded his “return.”
Channel 2’s report said it was unclear at which point Netanyahu was intending to hold up the peace process, and that it could come either in response to Secretary of State John Kerry’s peace framework, or as a condition of following through on already promised releases of detained Palestinians.
White House officials have been quoted in the Israeli press saying President Obama remains opposed to releasing Pollard, though their determination to advance the Israel-Palestinian talks, despite most of Israel’s government being opposed to reaching a deal on general principle, may convince them to give in. That’s Netanyahu’s hope, at least.
Nutty&Yahoo has no right whatsoever to hold peace talks hostage to Jonathan Pollard's release. Pollard committed the capital crime of treason, in which he sold Israel classified top secret documents, which were then passed on to the former USSR, severely damaging US security. Pollard should have been executed, but the court granted him life in prison instead. This is just more evidence that Nutty&Yahoo has no intentions whatsoever of securing a peace deal with the Palestinians and should never be trusted.
Pollard is where he belongs. He's a traitor, pure and simple. US Intelligence agencies do not want this man released, ever.
Pollard is not where he belongs, because he's still alive. Every time Israel pulls this stunt, we are reminded of that, and of the only reason he is still alive.
What peace talks with the Palestinians?
just more delaying tactics for sure
Just ole talk the US is not an honest broker never was and never has been weeks ago Kerry tried to sqeeze the Palestinians further marginalize their position.
The Great Oxymoron right? What the H-E double toothpicks is so SPECIAL about this CRIMINAL/TRAITOR that the world must wait for his release?
another shiftless ploy by the israelis. they have no intention of negotiating anything in good faith. their 40+ year occupation proves it in itself. as for pollard, he should have went the way of the rosenbergs.
Tell Netanyahu to vacate the West Bank and cease restricting Gaza entirely and unconditionally. As for Pollard, no dice unless Netanyahu shuts down Israel's nuclear weapons program, ceases using depleted or undepleted uranium weaponry and Israel's other chemical weapons, and allows Mordechai Vanunu to emigrate. If Bibi throws a fit, then shove a live drone up his ass so that his successor will get the message.
The US government should order the Israeli government to stop treating the Palestinians like helots, and start serious peace talks with the Palestinians. If the Israeli government does not like it, let them find another suger daddy. Netanyahu should also be informed the US government will not be blackmailed, and the spy Jonathan Pollard will remain in prison. End of discussion.
Why does the US need to engage in this charade? The peace process is so dead it has turned to dust. I think Netanyahu is doing it for brownie points at home, and to create discord in the US government.
Pollard enabled the Israeli government to devastate American Intel behind the iron Curtain. Hundreds were killed. Both have much blood on their hands.
Bibi could lead by example by allowing Mordechai Vanunu to migrate from Israel. He was convicted for the far, far less serious crime of confirming what everyone knew, that Israel has nuclear weapons. But Netanyahu is a Racist who believes that there is one rule for Jews and another for all us subhumans.
The real reason for the push for a release of the traitor Pollard is to enable more traitors. Israelis do not give a tinker's dam about Pollard any more than they cared about the Iraqi Jews they killed in bomb attacks throughout 1950-51 in Baghdad and other cities to terrorize the jewish community there into fleeing to Israel which needed a larger population. The Mossad wants to ensure their patsies that we never let a Jew face punishment whatever the crime. It is not a good idea for Americans to encourage treason.
Release Pollard . . . in a body bag.
indeed what peace talks…
but lets ponder the notion/nonsense that israel will not take part in 'peace talks' until the US govt releases the spy pollard is absurd ….???
what has this traitor got to do with the Palestinians? why does the us govt put up with such tantrums which seems designed to embarrass the US? its time to tell nutty yahoo where to get off..and let him hold his breath all he likes…..time to cut off aid to this spoil child/bully…and tell it that they are not so special after all.
perhaps then the israeli govt will take its fingers out of its ears and its head out of the sand/ its a*se
hmmm…. At first this might seem like a smart move. But it could backfire. If presented in the proper light, this may show Americans just how "different" the motivations are between Israel and the USA.
Americans may be "pro Israel" but they are also probably even more "pro USA" .
They just recently caught glimpse of the Israel cult trying to suck them into Syria,
and then into Iran….now topping these moves with a blatant poke at an old wound.
Here is to hoping that this hits the news, and causes another widening in the rift.
can it become any more clear to the US congress that this guy is no friend of anyone….
I'll bet the US msm burys this story….
he is an ethno-manic
when can we start bombing Netanyahu
there is no other country on earth that is belligerent towards the US has israel is
Hey Netan yahoo Swap you a Jonathan Pollard for a Mordechai Vanunu!
Why not send Pollard over there along with Jane Harman, and every other senator/rep whose loyalty is not to the citizens of the USA?
Also, send that corrupt representative Menendez (NJ) and Schumer (NY) who have demonstrated no loyalty to American citizens with regard to fairness in the ME.
I'd be cruel about this – offer Pollard and no more aid or no Pollard and continued aid. Let Pollard know how much Israel values him.
Nice…but though Bibi would readily agree to the agreement, as soon as Pollard was safely ensconced in a nice apartment in Tel Aviv, Netanyahoo would turn his pets in the US Congress loose demanding that Israel's security was at stake without the BILLIONS of American taxpayers' dollars being withheld by that evil Muslim Obama…
So why is every Israeli interaction with the United States like a shopping trip for Tel Aviv? You would think they were the ones propping up our economy with billions of shekels– American politicians are acting like football players who get turned around on the field and try to score a touchdown for the other side rather than their own team.
any of the Borg that start spewing about this again…especially them in the USA should be striped of their US citizenship…and deported
A better idea is to use Pollard as an incentive. If a peace deal is struck, Pollard walks.
Just as bad. A delayed payment plan but still blackmail.
Pollard SHOULD have been planted directly in front of a firing squad years ago. As for Bibi demands about releasing Pollard for "Palestinian peace talks", that's a load of disingenuous crap.
Pollard can rot in prison and Bibi can piss up rope.
There's a Scots comment that fits the US/Israel connection….
" False friends are worse than bitter enemies’."
Two can play at this game. If peace is achieved we'll allow pollard to continue to breathe. Otherwise we off the traitor. But wait, I forgot about congress and why this piece of s**t can make these outrageous demands.
Unfortunately, there will be no peace since 'peace' will require sacrifice on the part of Israel. This sacrifice will necessitate the surrender of land, including parts of East Jerusalem. But the Jews will never 'divide' Jerusalem, nor will they allow a viable Palestinian State to emerge. The 'peace process' is a fraud.
Pollard deserves to rot in jail, and he deserves to enjoy the company of other Israeli-American traitors there.
Indict Netanyahu for his role in nuclear spying, when he was in the US working for Mossad. Then talk trade.
The government of the state of Israel is reprehensible. This Netanyayo has no more intention of peace than of vacating Israel. We watched in disgust as the Knesset "discussion" regarding recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Israel was just leverage to bring Turkey to her knees. This by a nation who experienced the Holocaust which was, in a sense modeled on the Genocide. No I don't see any good coming out of Israel now or in the future. It's a nation of self actualized chosen ones and has circled the wagons around all other races and creeds. Their actions make them the despised race on the earth. If the US government wasn't a money whoropoly with the fourth branch completely under their control, they would have no influence or sympathy here either.
Amazing. The IDF sells our secret military equipment to the Chinese and some flunky in Israel resigns over it. Bibi facing another case of pushing it right up our rear end and Bibi elects to make a stink over our greatest traitor. Next I would expect bibi demand the survivors of the USS Liberty to pay the pilots and boat sailors money because their feelings were hurt.
We need to find a way to get rid of our elected official who keep giving too much money to those who want war. BTW somehow Israel got the contracts to manufacture all the small rounds for the region No wonder they want shooting wars.