Israelis from across the political and religious spectrum have signed
a petition calling for Jonathan Pollard to be released from prison.
Bereaved families met last week with President Shimon Peres prior to
his trip to the United States to underscore the importance of his
intended appeal to U.S. President Barack Obama on behalf of Pollard.
Among the 70,000 signatories are many famous figures who until today
have never come together for a single purpose. They include Chief
Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona Metzger and authors A. B. Yehoshua and David
Grossman, singer Shlomo Artzi and former minister Tzipi Livni.
Also signed on are Israeli nobel prize winners Professor Dan
Shechtman and Professor Yisrael Aumann, former Hamas captive Gilad
Shalit and his family, politician Uzi Dayan, Rabbi Yoel Ben-Nun, and
legal expert Amnon Rubinstein.
The letter, addressed to President Shimon Peres, states: “Due to deep
concern for Jonathan´s welfare, and desire to see him spend the
remainder of his life as a free man, we ask you to use your
unprecedented diplomatic status and your close relationship with
President Obama for Jonathan’s release.”
Pollard activists said a similar letter signed by dozens of mayors
was on its way to Peres. The president is traveling to the United
States, where he is to meet with President Barack Obama and receive
the Medal of Freedom – a meeting Pollard activists hope he will use
to push strongly for the ailing Pollard’s release.
