Israelis “bug” President Obama to release Pollard

Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA – July 13, 2011

[IMRA: The following anecdote which was shared with IMRA by a first-hand
source, raises some question about the degree of seriousness that is being
attached to the numerous requests that have been made to President Obama for
the release of Jonathan Pollard. Pollard is languishing in an American
prison in his 26th year of a life sentence.]

At a recent kosher fundraising dinner party for President Obama’s reelection
campaign where donations started at $20,000.00 and up, a well-connected
American Jewish activist (who brought in serious money that night) merited a
few minutes of private time with the President. Here is how their
conversation went:

The activist asked the President, “Are you going to free Jonathan Pollard?

The President responded, “Are they bugging you too?”

The activist replied, “Yes, the Jewish community is bugging me.”

The President declared, “The Israelis are bugging me too.”

The activist explained, “Pollard is an important issue in the Jewish
Community today. We all feel its time for him to be released.”

The President was silent.

The activist pressed on, “I raised a lot of money for tonight’s event and
many of those who gave me money only gave it to me on the condition that I
ask you the question about Pollard.”

There was no response from the President.

The conversation was closed.