The real reason Jewish-American spy Jonathan Pollard is back in the news

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

http://972mag.com/the-real-reason-jewish-american-spy-jonathan-pollard-is-back-in-the-news/109266/

In addition to seeing Pollard freed, many of his backers in Israel want nothing more than for Jonathan to receive a hero’s welcome when he walks onto the tarmac at Ben-Gurion Airport. Nearly every Jewish politician and public figure in Israel will want to take part; Pollard’s means easy public relations points.

The problem here is that parole in the United States generally involves restrictions on the parolee, including their freedom of movement – and particularly restrictions on travelling outside of the United States. In other words, the chances of Pollard being allowed to visit – or move to – Israel in the years following his parole are slim to none. If the United States releases Pollard but doesn’t allow him to emigrate, it would deflate the political significance of his release as far as most Israelis are concerned.

This is where talk of his early release comes into play. If President Obama grants clemency to Pollard just weeks ahead of his scheduled release, it would be as insulting both as a goodwill gesture and in any proposed quid pro quo. The Israeli government often attempts to do the same thing with Palestinian prisoner releases – include prisoners who are scheduled to be released soon anyway.

What is in play for Pollard and his backers in Israel is that the restrictions on parolees don’t necessarily apply to somebody who has been granted clemency. There is a good chance that if he is granted clemency he will be able to immigrate to Israel, where he will be treated as a hero instead of a traitor – and of course, where he will be able to join his second wife (a Canadian immigrant to Israel), with whom he has never spent one free day.

Oh, wouldn't it be grand for the Netanyahu admin to parade around an American-born Israeli spy as a hero?
I'm sure that would make everybody see Israel as a shining beacon of freedom and common sense in a world gone crazy.

No, it would more probably make Israeli politicians be as seen as crass enablers of spies: making even more question why the West puts up with the apartheid state.

[oberliner]

1. Where does the article say what the real reason is?

Is it something other than the fact that he is up for parole in November?

I'm not seeing what is meant by the "real reason".

[bemildred]

2. The "real reason" is so Pollard can be part of a political dog-and-pony show in Israel.

According to the piece. If paroled, he is still not free to go. If granted clemency, he supposedly would be able to go to his parade.

And then there is this:

This is where talk of his early release comes into play. If President Obama grants clemency to Pollard just weeks ahead of his scheduled release, it would be as insulting both as a goodwill gesture and in any proposed quid pro quo. The Israeli government often attempts to do the same thing with Palestinian prisoner releases – include prisoners who are scheduled to be released soon anyway.

So one can infer that everybody wants to be cute, like kids who smile at Daddy and then stick their tongues out at each other.

[Israeli]

3. Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard to be released in November

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4683705,00.html