‘Kerry offers to release Jonathan Pollard’

[oberliner]

US Secretary of State John Kerry offered to arrange the release of jailed spy-for-Israel Jonathan Pollard if Israel frees Israeli Arab prisoners in the fourth and final phase of a series of prisoner releases, Israel’s Channel 10 News reported Friday night, citing unnamed Israeli sources.

The TV report added, however, that Kerry clarified in his contacts with Israel’s leaders on the issue that Pollard’s release had not been approved by President Barack Obama, and the report further said Israel doubted that Kerry could actually secure Obama’s approval.

In contrast to the TV report, Israel Radio reported Friday night that Kerry had merely promised to check into the possibility of freeing Pollard, as requested by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in the context of upcoming prisoner releases by Israel.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/kerry-to-offer-the-release-of-jonathan-pollard/

[bluestateguy]

1. From what I hear Biden is very strongly opposed to this

Obama has been open to the idea, but I don't see it happening.

[DonViejo]

2. Source(s) please?

Thank you in advance.

[bluestateguy]

3. This is from Haaretz

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/report-obama-weighed-clemency-for-pollard-but-biden-vehemently-opposed-move-1.387562

“President Obama was considering clemency, but I told him, ‘Over my dead body are we going to let him out before his time.’ If it were up to me, he would stay in jail for life,” U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was quoted as saying during a meeting with rabbis in Florida in a New York Times article published on Saturday.

The Times article reported that U.S. President Barack Obama has turned to Biden to shore up support amongst U.S. Jews.

"As Mr. Obama confronts his re-election challenge and the prospect of fracturing support among core constituencies, he is relying increasingly on Mr. Biden for help with one particular group: American Jews, who routinely tend to vote Democratic but whom the Republicans are, once again, making a run at," the Times article read.

more

[LiberalEsto]

4. Good for Biden! nt

[DonViejo]

7. Thank you! I imagine the VP stood by his

position about Pollard and would urge the Prez to not release him. Besides, I'll bet the 'pukes would introduce a motion to impeach him if Pollard were to be released on his watch. Thanks again for the link and info.

[Jefferson23]

5. What an odd case of leverage on display, lol. n/t

[oberliner]

8. What connection does releasing prisoners have to releasing prisoners?

You are asking us to release all these prisoners, many of whom have committed heinous crimes, including the murder of Israelis.

If you want us to do that, we would like you to release one of our prisoners as well.

Seems like the connection is fairly obvious.

[oberliner]

10. The US government

The US government is asking Israel to release prisoners.

The Israeli government, in return, is asking the US to release a prisoner.

[azurnoir]

11. wait a minute so you claim Israel should get Pollard because it's releasing prisoners

that have been in prison for decades?

I thought Israel was getting more settlement units for that or is it just a cherry?

[oberliner]

12. No I don't

And I certainly don't think Israel should be building any more settlements.

Israel should put a halt to all settlement activity instead of releasing murderers.

In fact, they should withdraw all settlements completely and let the criminals serve their full sentences.

[azurnoir]

13. virtually all of these prisoners have served 20+ years some 30+years

in most western countries prisoners that have served that long would be released on parole- no parole in the cases of Palestinian prisoners but rearrest for the smallest infraction is always an option and used with some frequency

[oberliner]

16. Good point

Even so, a settlement freeze seems more helpful than releasing murderers.

[oberliner]

20. It's awful

"Facts on the ground" is a load of BS. It's the excuse used to try to make the Israeli settlements permanent.

[oberliner]

23. I don't understand what you mean here

Can you elaborate?

[oberliner]

15. Yes indeed

I have no problem with 972mag. In fact I think there should be a permanent pinned thread at the top of this forum with all of the 972mag articles appended to it. I have suggested this numerous times. Maybe even a separate one just for Yossi since he is so prolific.

[oberliner]

19. Appreciate the suggestion

And how did you know my real name?

[oberliner]

24. Seriously, though

Please do send me a PM if you would.

[Violet_Crumble]

25. There's been a massive misunderstanding here...

Delrem wasn't referring to you by yr real name. They were referring to 'King David', who most everyone refers to as Dave. The comment about all hasbarists blending together should have made that clear. While I see a massive difference between you and Dave, it was clear even to me that if by some chance that's yr real name, he wasn't referring to yr real name. Besides, how would he know what yr real name was?

[oberliner]

28. Thanks

I was a tad slow on that one, but it's all sorted out now.

[Violet_Crumble]

26. How about a separate pinned thread for the torrent of RW Times of Israel threads?

I've never seen you suggest that one...

[oberliner]

29. Haven't seen as many articles from there

But if you think it warrants such a thread, I wouldn't object.

[Violet_Crumble]

30. There's been a whole lot posted here. How many is too many?

What's the cut off point for you before you'd suggest it warrants its own thread?

[oberliner]

31. It's also not a very good site

I don't think it has earned any special attention.

[shaayecanaan]

27. Pollard is up for parole in 2015 anyway...

they are not giving up that much.

Frankly, I think that the hero's welcome that he will receive will hopefully persuade Americans what a feckless ally that they have in Israel.

[oberliner]

32. Very true

He'll probably get more of a hero's welcome than Samir Kuntar got!

Do you think the US will agree to release him or not?

[King_David]

33. I don't think the average American has even heard of him nt