JERUSALEM – Israeli President Shimon Peres has dispatched a letter to
President Barack Obama asking him to release convicted spy Jonathan
Pollard.
The former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst received a life sentence in
1987 for leaking classified documents to Israel.
Many Israelis believe the sentence was too harsh, and officials often
demand his release.
In his letter Monday, Peres pleaded with Obama to release Pollard for
humanitarian reasons. The 57-year-old Pollard was hospitalized last
week. Peres hosted Pollard´s wife on Sunday.
Democratic and Republican administrations in the U.S. have repeatedly
refused Israeli appeals to release the convicted spy.
