Netanyahu to Seek Release of Convicted Spy Pollard

Dec. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will make an “official and public” appeal to President Barack Obama for the release of Jonathan Pollard, who was imprisoned for being an Israeli spy 25 years ago.

“I intend to continue working with determination to free Pollard, both because of the state of Israel’s moral responsibility for him and so that Jonathan will be able to live with his family and restore his health after a long period of incarceration,” Netanyahu said today in a text message.

Netanyahu said in the message that he has repeatedly asked U.S. presidents for Pollard’s release since he was first prime minister in 1996. Pollard was arrested outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington in November 1985 and was sentenced to life in prison for spying for Israel. He was granted Israeli citizenship in 1995.

Pollard, 56, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, operated on behalf of Israel’s “Office for Scientific Relations” before his arrest.