(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) – Following a long debate in the Knesset on Wednesday evening, 106 of the 120 MKs (Members of Knesset) signed a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama calling for the immediate release of Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, who has spent 28 years in jail.
The Knesset will convey the letter to Obama via U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro, and Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein will also present a copy to the U.S. Senate.
“The Israeli Knesset is turning to U.S. President Barack Obama to request, on humanitarian and humanistic grounds, in light of his grave medical condition, to shorten the sentence of Jonathan Pollard and order his immediate release,” read the letter. “This humanitarian gesture is essential, and even necessary for Israel-U.S. relations at this time. The Israeli Knesset is saying in a single voice, ‘The time has come to free Jonathan Pollard.'”
The debate leading up to the letter’s drafting and signing was initiated by MKs Ayelet Shaked (Habayit Hayehudi) and Hilik Bar (Labor) and involved some 40 MKs.
