Will Previous Prediction: Pollard for Barghouti be Actualized?
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Report: US to Release Pollard in Barghouti Swap Deal
Request to Olmert to Obtain Pollard’s Release
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Activists working towards obtaining the release of Jonathan Pollard on the eve of Passover submitted another request to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, based on reports the Bush administration would be willing to release the convicted spy should Israel make another official request, the daily Ha’aretz reports.
According to a Galei Tzahal (Army) Radio report on Sunday morning, such a deal could involve the release by Israel of convicted terrorist, Fatah Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti.
Reports recently attributed to Pollard stated he rejects such a deal involving the release of murderers to obtain his release.
Pollard’s Wife on Swap: Bush Said He’s Ready to Free Him
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Jonathan Pollard’s attorney said Sunday that the United States would release the convicted spy if Pollard’s onetime handler, Rafi Eitan, handed over a secret document which details broad Israeli government involvement in the affair.
Responding to reports that the United States and Israel may agree to release convicted spy Jonathan Pollard in exchange for the release of jailed Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti, Pollard’s wife said Sunday that President George Bush has proposed releasing Pollard, but that Israel had refused to move the matter forward.
“We know Bush. He is a religious man. Through a contact person who is very close to us and who has his ear, he proposed freeing Jonathan for seder night this year,” Esther Pollard told the radio, referring to the eve of Passover, last Wednesday night.
“We passed the message to the prime minister, but instead of this, we see the headlines that perhaps Pollard will be released in exchange for Barghouti.”
Esther Pollard said Israel was uninterested in Pollard, rather in Barghouti. “Every time the government wants to push this or that initiative, suddenly they bring up Pollard’s name,” she said, speaking in Hebrew.
“This is all about Barghouthi, not Pollard. They want to free Barghouthi,” she said. “Barghouthi will go free and Jonathan will stay in prison.”
The officials confirmed that two years ago, around the time that Barghouti was sentenced, the idea of releasing him in exchange for Pollard was raised.
An Israeli official mentioned the idea in conversation with a U.S. counterpart, without prior approval from former prime minister Ariel Sharon. The U.S. official rejected the offer categorically, but Israeli officials believe nevertheless that the entry of Hamas into the PA government will lead the United States to change its position.