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Thursday, September 29, 2016
Weekly Commentary: Obama can honor Peres by sending Pollard home

Weekly Commentary: Obama can honor Peres by sending Pollard home
Dr. Aaron Lerner 29 September 2016

President Obama's signature sending Jonathan Pollard home to Israel would do
more honor to Shimon Peres than any graveside address or placing of flags at
half staff.
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Grapevine [Excerpt]: From Dimona to Davos - a year in review

By Greer Fay Cashman - The Jerusalem Post - January 3, 2014

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Grapevine-From-Dimona-to-Davos-336953

ALTHOUGH THE US Presidential Medal of Freedom has nothing to do with freedom
per se, but is awarded in recognition of individuals who have made “an
especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of
the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or
private endeavors,” in the case of one honoree, the medal’s title should be
taken literally.

On Wednesday, when Peres received a letter signed by 106 MKs, who called on
US President Barack Obama to grant clemency to convicted Israeli agent
Jonathan Pollard, the president told MKs Ayelet Shaked and Nachman Shai, who
initiated and delivered the letter and who head the Knesset lobby for
Pollard, that it was both a right and a duty for him to bring the request
from across Israel’s political spectrum to Obama.

“It is my clear responsibility to voice such clear consensus,” he said,
adding that he does so with pride. Peres, who has raised the Pollard issue
with Obama on a number of occasions, said that he could not recall such
previous consensus on either humanitarian or political issues.

At this stage of the game, it’s not good enough for Peres to simply play
postman. In forwarding the letter, probably via US Secretary of State John
Kerry, he should also return his Medal of Freedom, with a polite note
stating that neither he nor any other Israeli leader can accept an American
award with the word “freedom” in its title while Pollard’s freedom continues
to be denied.

It may not initially be the key to Pollard’s cell door, but it will generate
a lot of media attention in the US and beyond, and perhaps Obama will then
be sufficiently embarrassed to finally do the right thing – and sign the
document that will allow Pollard to board a plane for Israel and live out
the remainder of his life as a free man.
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