Gov’t Grossly Exaggerated in Case Against Pollard

By Clarice Feldman, AMERICAN THINKER

The damage assessment respecting the espionage activities of Jonathan Pollard, serving a life sentence for spying against the U.S. for Israel, has finally been released and it indicates the government grossly exaggerated the focus and harm of his actions:

    The damage assessment includes new details on the specific subjects and documents sought by Pollard’s Israeli handlers (pages 36-43), such as Syrian drones and central communications, Egyptian missile programs, and Soviet air defenses. The Israelis specifically asked for a signals intelligence manual that they needed to listen in on Soviet advisers in Syria. The document describes how Pollard’s handler, Joseph Yagur, told him to ignore a request, from Yagur’s boss, for U.S. “dirt” on senior Israeli officials and told Pollard that gathering such information would terminate the operation (page 38).

Under the heading “What the Israelis Did Not Ask For,” the assessment remarks (page 43) that they “never expressed interest in US military activities, plans, capabilities, or equipment.”

The assessment also notes that Pollard volunteered delivery of three daily intelligence summaries that had not been requested by his handlers, but which proved useful to them, and ultimately handed over roughly 1,500 such messages from the Middle East and North Africa Summary (MENAS), the Mediterranean Littoral Intelligence Summary (MELOS), and the Indian Ocean Littoral Intelligence Summary, in addition to the more than 800 compromised documents on other subjects that Pollard delivered to the Israelis in suitcases. [Emphasis supplied.]

December 15, 2012 | 41 Comments »

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41 Comments / 41 Comments

  1. Question: Your website appears not to have been updated since “2006.”

    If it’s not prying on my part to be asking, how come?

    Marriage, kids, university, busy life in Jerusalem, etc, etc..

  2. @ Robert S Barnes:

    “All of Pollard’s attempts to have his case retried or his sentence overturned have been rejected based on this technicality. The merits of his case have never been heard in open court. One of the federal court judges who heard one of his appeals wrote in a minority opinion that Pollard’s case was such a ‘gross miscarriage of justice,’ that the law regarding filing appeals within 10 days should be ignored and Pollard should be granted a trial.”

    Yes, you’re quite correct, in every respect.

    Question: Your website appears not to have been updated since “2006.”

    If it’s not prying on my part to be asking, how come?

  3. then he is entitled to a reversal of the conviction which relies on the ‘Guilty’ plea that he accepted with the agreement.

    Pollard’s court appointed defense attorney was a Lebanese Arab. For an appeal to be heard, a standard Notice of Appeal must be filed within 10 days of conviction / sentencing. It is standard procedure that every first year law student knows, but Pollard’s lawyer failed to file the forms. All of Pollard’s attempts to have his case retried or his sentence overturned have been rejected based on this technicality. The merits of his case have never been heard in open court. One of the federal court judges who heard one of his appeals wrote in a minority opinion that Pollard’s case was such a “gross miscarriage of justice,” that the law regarding filing appeals within 10 days should be ignored and Pollard should be granted a trial.

  4. @ Bernard Ross:

    “The continuing refusal by succeeding US Presidents and the half-hearted Israeli requests indicate something further to me.”

    “Much of foreign policy decision-making occurs at Foggy Bottom rather than in the Oval Office.”

    “It is so obviously inappropriate a sentence I wonder why each new president also rejects a commutation of sentence or an investigation.”

    That’s why I pointed to the State Dept in all this. I think the Presidency is taking its marching orders from DOS.

    — Hence, the consistent rejection of commutation/investigation from the White House.

  5. What about Weinberg sending a message to the American Jews that double allegiance of a Jew spying for IL is a NO NO of the worst kind seen from a Jewish antisemite. It kind of justify his Jewish antisemitism in his eyes. But he must have been parano!

  6. @ Bernard Ross:

    “The continuing refusal by succeeding US Presidents and the half-hearted Israeli requests indicate something further to me.”

    Much of foreign policy decision-making occurs at Foggy Bottom rather than in the Oval Office.

  7. Wallace Brand Said:

    Why Pollard got life, http://www.jonathanpollard.org/1997/061397.htm

    Mr. Brand, thank you for the link. However, after reading I am still not satisfied that there is not further withheld explanation. The continuing refusal by succeeding US Presidents and the half-hearted Israeli requests indicate something further to me. I believe there is information damning to interested parties who are still alive and those parties are able to blackmail succeeding presidents. Freeing Pollard would have only brought the relevant President “points”. Its as though each President had an personal interest in maintaining the status quo.

  8. @ yamit82:I dont disagree with what you are saying but I think there is more to this than has met the eye. The continuation of Pollards sentence whereby succeeding US presidents refuse him clemency is way out of proportion and Israel’s stance is suspect. I think there is something we all dont know including, as has been alluded to, the collusion of the Israeli govt.

  9. @ Bernard Ross:
    Bernard Ross Said:

    Any idea of what the info would be? Perhaps US also blackmailed the judges etc. which may explain all those decisions.

    ” to teach Jews the fundamental principle of the West: to accept humiliation and blackmail and be quiet about it.


    Pollard, Israel, America and Terror

    Pollard had stumbled on the main fact of modern geopolitics: Israel is meant to be sacrificed; it is not meant to survive, both jihadists and those at the highest levels of the western powers who exploit their genocidal and imperial ambitions are united in the wish to erase Israel. By discovering the cover-up and sharing the info that could save Israel Pollard had thwarted this great and evil design and the powers proceeded to do to him what they are by planned stages doing to Israel.

    The Israeli people, like Pollard have been condemned, cornered and set up by the diplomatic-intelligence elites of the United States and other great powers with the willing assistance of the perennial regime in Jerusalem, its anti-Jewish high court and anti-Jewish major media. It has gone so far that Israel basically is ordered not to strike back and save its citizens and state while jihadists shower it with rockets”.

  10. @ Bernard Ross:
    Bernard Ross Said:

    Any idea of what the info would be? Perhaps US also blackmailed the judges etc. which may explain all those decisions.

    ” to teach Jews the fundamental principle of the West: to accept humiliation and blackmail and be quiet about it.
    Pollard, Israel, America and Terror
    Pollard had stumbled on the main fact of modern geopolitics: Israel is meant to be sacrificed; it is not meant to survive, both jihadists and those at the highest levels of the western powers who exploit their genocidal and imperial ambitions are united in the wish to erase Israel. By discovering the cover-up and sharing the info that could save Israel Pollard had thwarted this great and evil design and the powers proceeded to do to him what they are by planned stages doing to Israel.

    The Israeli people, like Pollard have been condemned, cornered and set up by the diplomatic-intelligence elites of the United States and other great powers with the willing assistance of the perennial regime in Jerusalem, its anti-Jewish high court and anti-Jewish major media. It has gone so far that Israel basically is ordered not to strike back and save its citizens and state while jihadists shower it with rockets”.

  11. @ Bill Narvey:

    “Pollard was falsely accused of treason”

    “Yamit, Pollard was not falsely accused…”

    It’s true that he was not “falsely accused” of something.

    But he was NEVER accused of “treason” (falsely or otherwise).

    He was charged with one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 794 (c):

    — delivering defense information to a foreign government “with intent, or reason to believe” that the information was to be used either: “to the injury of the United States”, OR, “to the advantage of a foreign nation.”

    That’s it.

    “Treason” was never part of the indictment.

    “…and [Pollard was not] wrongly convicted…”

    Well, insofar as the federal prosecutors reneged on the plea-bargain agreement, it’s arguable that he should be entitled either to the 6th Amendment right to a trial that he relinquished with his acceptance of the plea-bargain, or (if no trial is possible at this point because he kept his word & gave the prosecutors everything they needed to convict him), then he is entitled to a reversal of the conviction which relies on the ‘Guilty’ plea that he accepted with the agreement.

    After Pollard had lived up to HIS end of the deal: by spilling his guts with DAYS of polygraph testing to confirm the accuracy of his remarks in sufficient detail to satisfy FBI investigators as to every particular

    — the govt turned around — & with Weinberger’s unlawful ex parte memorandum — effectively asked for the max sentence.

  12. Shmuel HaLevi Said:

    It is widely accepted that the persons in question could be compromised if Mr. Pollard is set free and talks.

    Any idea of what the info would be? Perhaps US also blackmailed the judges etc. which may explain all those decisions.

  13. @ Bernard Ross:
    Key parties to Mr. Pollard’s work were Mr. Peres, Mr. Rubinstein and direct links MOSSAD handlers one of which is quite a mover and shaker to this day. Mr. Peres as it always has been, ended up being president, Mr. Rubinstein at the time of the Pollard affair unravelling was a modest line attorney at the Israeli delegation in the US and is today, a supreme court judge. He was instrumental of delivering Mr. Pollard to the FBI. Rubinstesin was also involved on a cover up for Avishai Raviv, (AKA champagne), organziaed by Beinish and Arbel.
    Naturally the two lasses also ended up in the supreme court…
    It is widely accepted that the persons in question could be compromised if Mr. Pollard is set free and talks.

  14. Shmuel HaLevi Said:

    The condition Mr. Pollard has faced is predicated upon the above and the permanence in power in Israel of persons that do not want Pollard freed to protect themselves.

    Can you elaborate on this please?

  15. @ yamit82:
    We all know hat commenting around the solution is not conductive to solving the blatant act of anti-Semitism by US jurisdictions bent on blackmail and humiliation.
    Under those conditions it is useless to go back and rattle Weinberger’s rotting carcass. He is precisely where he should be.
    The condition Mr. Pollard has faced is predicated upon the above and the permanence in power in Israel of persons that do not want Pollard freed to protect themselves.
    The real solution, and not only for the Pollard problem but for the country as a whole, is for Israelis to come to terms with reality and remove the corrupt, treacherous leadership and create the conditions for a truly free election of a new system of government and people to man it.
    All countries spy on each other. The US has a robust population of spies here, some of which were visited not long ago by the Israeli Secret Services. Publications abound about a huge telecom system spying on communications as well.
    Among the self assured demonstrations one must expect from leaders is that they have the grit to reciprocate when our people is harmed by another country or others. Again, on this it has been robustly proven that the “Israeli leadership” is totally worthless.
    To address all critical security and other issues we must, fast, unite to change leadership from the roots up, NOW!

  16. We may never know why Jonathan Pollard is being held in prison to this day.

    But we do know one thing: That the Government of Israel has done nothing to put an end to this travesty of justice.
    Nothing of real substance that is.

    There is no country on earth that has abandoned his agent, the one man who has given his allh for its security, scarified 27 or 28 years of his freedom, his health, his life, for nothing in return but indifference, or worse.

    At this time, the most important issue at hand is what will the Israeli government leaders, and the World Jewish Community do, to have Jonathan released, wknowing all that has come to light with this new Damage Assessment.

    It is urgent that the right steps be taken to free jonathan. It is a matter of life and death!!! Enough is enough!

  17. @ Honey Bee:

    He wasn’t Jewish. Despite his Jew-y last name, was raised Episcopalian. Here’s where it gets interesting: his paternal grandparents were Jews, but they left the faith after an argument with their local temple. He was reared in a home with no denominational ties, though with a general Christian orientation. In time he became an active Episcopalian

  18. @ yamit82:
    Yamit82: I am not an attorney, but I believe the sentence was “life without parole,” not “life without pardon.” The Constitution gives the power to pardon for federal crimes to the President of the United States. A criminal court can’t trump this power. It is a power that is used frequently by President’s departing office. I fear that Johnathan Pollard will remain in prison,without respect to the nature of the thing for which he was imprisoned, until there is a substantial quid pro quo for the action of pardoning him and releasing him. Of course, the Courts can commute his sentence unless there exists some federal law rescinding this power of the courts in the case of a sentence of “life without parole.” A good criminal attorney familiar with federal crimes and sentencing for these crimes would be able to inform us.

  19. I read some time ago that Weinberger, a Catholic convert, admitted on his death bed that he lied in his letter to the Judge. He said (paraphrasing)–I cannot think of greater damage to U.S. security than what Pollard did. How can info give to an ally be greater damage than that given to an enemy? Moreover, Pollard’s sentence is longer than any given to those who sold secrets to enemies. He was tried as an American, but sentenced as a Jew.

  20. There is a non-reducible core of deeply and pathologically antisemitic individuals in several US agencies. Weinberg is a prime symbol of this state of affair. But many hide in these agencies. Jealousy is a powerful engine!

  21. @ Bill Narvey:

    Weinberger is ashamed of being Jewish. he could have changed is name,but never his face. How else do you prove youself but by destroying your own at every oppertunity.

  22. Bill Narvey Said:

    in light of Weinberger’s maliciously false representations to the sentencing judge

    Mossad needs to get Wienberger and torture it out of him; LOL,if only they could. Perhaps the next best thing. My suspicion is that the GOI knows why he is still being held by succeeding presidents but is not disclosing. What’s Weinberger up to these days?

  23. Yamit, Pollard was not falsely accused and wrongly convicted as you state. He has however, been harshly treated by the American government, especially with revelations that have leaked out in the past 10 or so years that Casper Weinberger intervened in the sentencing of Pollard. A deal was struck by Pollard’s attorneys and the DOJ for a lesser sentence to be recommended to the judge.

    Weinberger in a private and confidential memorandum given to the judge immediately before sentencing grossly exaggerated the descriptions of damage Pollard had caused and that moved the judge to reject the jointly proposed sentence and impose the maximum sentence.

    It is however, not just Obama, but past Presidents who have turned aside pleas from not only Jewish groups, but Israel for clemency and sentence reduction. The most recent appeal was by Shimon Peres last year.

    If it was intended that the U.S. government was going to use the issue of Pollard’s release as a bargaining chip against Israel on significant issues that might arise, that intention has long vanished.

    Why the government continues to hold Pollard, especially in light of Weinberger’s maliciously false representations to the sentencing judge and the fact that he has served far longer than others similarly charged, whose crimes were far more grievous and damaging, is beyond reason.

  24. Pollard is a pawn for blackmail and humilliation.
    The GoI in turn knows specifically about dozens of US spies in Israel and fail even on that to act as needed.
    We are fast approaching end game here and still continue to gape at the marionettes being played for us for distraction.

  25. Jonathan Pollard,

    “she’asa nisim la’avoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.” … “And for the miracles, and for the salvation, and for the mighty deeds, and for the victories, and for the battles which You performed for our forefathers in those days, at this season.”

    Pollard was falsely accused of treason and has been incarcerated under brutal conditions to teach Jews the fundamental principle of the West: to accept humiliation and blackmail and be quiet about it. Pollard’s ‘crime’ was that he gave classified information that was supposed to be shared with Israel about the missile sites and arsenals in Arab States that were targeted at Israel. Americas State Dept. and all her security agencies wanted Israel kept in the dark and thus pliable. For the unforgivable sin of saving America from being a party to genocide and for saving the Jewish people from blackmail and possible annihilation, Pollard was charged with treason, which he did not commit, and sentenced to life without pardon.

    “The Lord said to Moses, “Stretch forth your hand toward the heavens, and there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, and the darkness will become darker. So Moses stretched forth his hand toward the heavens, and there was thick darkness over the entire land of Egypt for three days. They did not see each other, and no one rose from his place for three days, but for all the children of Israel there was light in their dwellings They did not see each other, and no one rose from his place for three days, but for all the children of Israel there was light in their dwellings”..Exodus 10

  26. I wonder what the real reason is for this usually long term involving allies spying on allies and the continuing holding of him. Reminds me of Noriega.