DATE=1/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244048
TITLE=POLLARD CASE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON  
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  SOME TOP U-S OFFICIALS SAY A CONVICTED ISRAELI SPY SHOULD
STAY IN A U-S PRISON.  ISRAEL'S GOVERNMENT DEMANDED JONATHAN 
POLLARD'S RELEASE DURING THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATIONS AT 
WYE RIVER PLANTATION LAST OCTOBER.  PRESIDENT CLINTON PROMISED TO
REVIEW THE CASE, AND ORDERED TOP NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS TO 
GIVE HIM THEIR GUIDANCE BY MONDAY.  V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS 
FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT:  WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY IT IS  NOT  YET CLEAR HOW SOON 
THE PRESIDENT WILL MAKE A DECISION ON THE POLLARD CASE, OR WHAT 
HE WILL CONCLUDE.

OFFICIALS FROM THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, THE PENTAGON AND 
THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION HAVE STRONGLY OPPOSED 
RELEASING JONATHAN POLLARD IN THE PAST.  THEY WON'T SAY EXACTLY 
WHAT GUIDANCE THEY ARE GIVING THE PRESIDENT NOW, BUT SPOKESMEN 
TELL V-O-A THEY KNOW OF  NO  CHANGE IN POSITION.

// OPT //  ONE NEWS STORY (BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) SAYS 
OFFICIALS AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT SEES  NO  COMPELLING 
FOREIGN-POLICY REASON TO RELEASE POLLARD.  // END OPT //

JONATHAN POLLARD WAS ONCE A TRUSTED U-S INTELLIGENCE ANALYST, 
WITH ACCESS TO MANY AMERICAN SECRETS.  HE WAS ARRESTED IN 1985 
AND IS NOW SERVING A LIFE TERM IN PRISON.

POLLARD IS JEWISH, AND SOME AMERICAN JEWISH GROUPS HAVE ECHOED 
THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT'S REQUEST TO FREE POLLARD.  THEY ARGUE 
THAT HIS SPYING FOR A FRIENDLY GOVERNMENT DID  NO  REAL HARM TO 
THE UNITED STATES.  THEY ALSO SAY HE HAS SERVED LONGER IN PRISON 
THAN OTHERS CONVICTED IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

HOWEVER, NEWS ARTICLES THIS WEEK, QUOTING UN-NAMED INTELLIGENCE 
SOURCES, SAY POLLARD'S SPYING DID MORE DAMAGE TO U-S SECURITY 
THAN WAS PREVIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGED.

THE ARTICLES (IN THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE AND THE NEW YORK TIMES) 
SAY POLLARD SOLD U-S SECRETS ABOUT TRACKING SOVIET SUBMARINES AND
KEY INFORMATION ABOUT U-S ELECTRONIC EAVESDROPPING TECHNIQUES, 
AND GAVE CLUES TO THE IDENTITIES OF SOME U-S AGENTS IN THE MIDDLE
EAST.

THE ARTICLES SAY OFFICIALS SUSPECT THE INFORMATION FOUND ITS WAY 
INTO SOVIET HANDS AND SERIOUSLY HURT U-S NATIONAL SECURITY.

POLLARD WAS PAID 50-THOUSAND DOLLARS BY ISRAEL AND PROMISED 
540-THOUSAND MORE FOR HIS EFFORTS.   (SIGNED).

NEB/JR/WDC/WTW

11-Jan-99 5:59 PM EST (2259 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.