DATE=12/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242916
TITLE=ISRAEL/POLLARD (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU PUBLICLY 
APPEALED TO PRESIDENT CLINTON SUNDAY FOR THE RELEASE OF JONATHAN 
POLLARD, THE FORMER U-S NAVY INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL CONVICTED 13 
YEARS AGO OF SPYING FOR ISRAEL.  VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM
JERUSALEM. 

TEXT: THE POLLARD CASE HAS BEEN A MAJOR SORE POINT IN U-S ISRAEL 
RELATIONS. AND MR. NETANYAHU'S LAST MINUTE ATTEMPT TO GET HIS 
RELEASE AT THE WYE RIVER SUMMIT IN OCTOBER NEARLY SCUTTLED THE 
PEACE ACCORD REACHED WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND PALESTINIAN 
LEADER YASSER ARAFAT.

THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER'S GAMBIT DREW CRITICISM FROM CLINTON 
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, WHO SAID THE ISSUE HAD NO PLACE IN THE 
PEACE TALKS. BUT PRESIDENT CLINTON DID AGREE TO REVIEW THE CASE.

AT HIS JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE HERE WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON, MR. 
NETANYAHU WENT TO SOME LENGTH TO CONDEMN POLLARD AND BY EXTENSION
THE ISRAELI OFFICIALS WHO TOOK PART IN THE SPY SCHEME, WHICH HE 
CALLED INEXCUSABLE. BUT HE SAID POLLARD HAS SERVED A LONG AND 
HARSH PRISON TERM AND SHOULD BE RELEASED NOW IN HUMANITARIAN 
GROUNDS:

                    ///NETANYAHU ACTUALITY///

         IT IS NOT BASED ON EXONERATING MR. POLLARD.  THERE IS NO
         EXONERATION FOR HIM.  IT IS MERELY THAT HE HAS BEEN 
         VIRTUALLY IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR 13 YEARS, IT'S A 
         VERY, VERY HEAVY SENTENCE. AND SINCE HE WAS SENT BY US 
         ON A MISTAKEN MISSION, NOT TO WORK AGAINST!THE UNITED 
         STATES, BUT NEVER-THE-LESS TO BREAK THE LAWS OF THE 
         UNITED STATES, WE HOPE THAT ON A PURELY HUMANITARIAN 
         APPEAL, A WAY WILL BE FOUND TO RELEASE HIM. 

                       ///END ACTUALITY///

SUCCESSIVE U-S ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE OPPOSED FREEING POLLARD. EVEN
MR. CLINTON'S OFFER TO REVIEW THE CASE PROVOKED CRITICISM, FROM 
AMONG OTHERS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT WHO CALLED POLLARD
ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS TRAITORS IN U-S HISTORY.

AT THE JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE, THE PRESIDENT WAS NON-COMMITAL 
ABOUT HOW THE POLLARD REVIEW MIGHT TURN OUT:

                     ///CLINTON ACTUALITY///

         WE HAVE INSTITUTED THIS REVIEW, WHICH I SAID IS 
         UNPRECEDENTED. WE ARE GIVING EVERYONE TIME TO PRESENT 
         THEIR COMMENTS, AND I WILL GET COMMENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF
         THE ISSUE, EVALUATE IT AND MAKE A DECISION.

                          ///END ACT///

POLLARD, A JEWISH AMERICAN AND FORMER U-S NAVY EMPLOYEE, IS 
SERVING A LIFE TERM FOR PASSING THOUSANDS OF SECRET DOCUMENTS TO 
ISRAEL ON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MILITARY CAPABILITIES OF IRAQ 
AND OTHER STATES HOSTILE TO ISRAEL.

HIS CAUSE HAS BEEN TAKEN UP BY FAR-RIGHT ISRAELI PARTIES 
INCLUDING MEMBERS OF PRIME MINISTER NETAYAHU'S COALITION, AND 
DEMONSTRATIONS ON HIS BEHALF ARE BEING HELD HERE DURING THE 
CLINTON VISIT. (SIGNED) 

NEB/DAG/DW/WFR

13-Dec-98 11:13 AM EST (1613 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.