Israel Gives Hero s Welcome To American Spy Jonathan Pollard By Ben Simon
12/30/20 AT 7:02 AM
Jonathan Pollard, an American jailed in the United States in 1985 for spying for Israel, landed in the Jewish state Wednesday to a hero s welcome led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Pollard, 66, served 30 years in prison for passing on classified documents when he served as a US Navy intelligence analyst, and had been confined to the United States under his parole terms since his 2015 release.
After years of Israeli lobbying to allow Pollard, a Jewish American, to leave, the US Justice Department removed the terms and conditions last month.
Jonathan Pollard: Convicted US spy lands in Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave the former spy a hero s weclome upon arrival. Pollard had served 30 years in prison before being granted parole.
Jonathan Pollard spent 30 years in a US federal prison and served a five-year parole period after his release in 2015
A video shared by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed the 66-year-old kissing the ground upon arrival.
Netanyahu then welcomed Pollard and his wife Esther with a prayer before handing an Israeli passport to the Texas-born former prisoner. It s a very moving moment that Jonathan and Esther are home how good it is that they came home, Netanyahu said. Now you can start life anew, with freedom and happiness.
Convicted US spy Pollard greeted by Netanyahu as he arrives in Israel
Decision to allow former Israeli asset to leave US seen by some as a parting gift to Netanyahu by Trump administration
There was no immediate indication as to whether Pollard, a former navy intelligence analyst, had been exempted from coronavirus restrictions (Israeli Prime Minister s Office) By Published date: 30 December 2020 08:43 UTC | Last update: 2 months 3 weeks ago
Jonathan Pollard, an American jailed in the United States in 1985 for spying for Israel, landed in Israel on Wednesday, where he was received by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Pollard, 66, served 30 years in prison for giving away classified US documents, and had been confined by parole terms to the US since his release in 2015, despite Israeli pressure to allow him to leave.
Pollard kisses the ground after he lands in Israel pic.twitter.com/hGCMuUtcTk
“Now you can start life anew, with freedom and happiness. Now you are home,” the prime minister said.
Pollard responded: “We are ecstatic to be home at last. There is no one who is more proud of this country or its leader than we are. We hope to become productive citizens as soon as possible.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) greets convicted US spy Jonathan Pollard and his wife Esther at Ben Gurion Airport, December 30, 2020 (Courtesy)
The Pollards flew in a private jet from Newark International Airport in New Jersey to accommodate Esther’s health issues, the Israel Hayom daily reported. She has been battling cancer.