Jonathan Pollard

Jonathan Pollard
U.S. Navy · Public domain · source
Name	Jonathan Pollard
Birth date	August 7, 1954
Birth place	Galveston, Texas, United States
Nationality	American, Israeli
Occupation	Former intelligence analyst for the United States Navy
Known for	Espionage for Israel

Jonathan Pollard is a former intelligence analyst for the United States Navy who was convicted of spying for Israel in 1987. Born in Galveston, Texas, United States, Pollard's actions led to a significant deterioration in relations between the United States and Israel, with Caspar Weinberger, the United States Secretary of Defense at the time, stating that Pollard's actions had caused significant harm to United States national security. The case also involved high-profile figures such as Benjamin Netanyahu, who was the Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations at the time, and William Cohen, who was a member of the United States Senate and later became the United States Secretary of Defense. The Pollard affair led to a re-evaluation of the United States-Israel relationship, with Shimon Peres, the Prime Minister of Israel at the time, apologizing for Israel's role in the affair.

● Early Life and Education

Pollard was born in Galveston, Texas, to a family of Jewish descent, and grew up in South Bend, Indiana, where he attended Stanford University and later transferred to Tufts University, graduating with a degree in Political Science from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. During his time at Tufts University, Pollard was influenced by Zionist ideology and became involved with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a lobbying group that advocates for United States-Israel relations. Pollard's interest in Middle Eastern studies led him to pursue a career in intelligence analysis, and he was eventually hired by the United States Navy as a civilian intelligence analyst, working at the Pentagon and later at the Naval Intelligence Command in Suitland, Maryland, near Washington, D.C.. Pollard's work involved analyzing Soviet Union naval operations and Middle East politics, and he had access to classified information related to United States national security, including National Security Agency (NSA) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reports.

● Espionage Career

Pollard's espionage career began in 1984, when he was recruited by Aviem Sella, a Israeli Air Force officer, to spy on the United States for Israel. Pollard, who was motivated by a desire to help Israel and a sense of disillusionment with United States foreign policy, began providing classified information to Israel, including documents related to Soviet Union military capabilities and Middle East politics. The information Pollard provided was handled by Lakam, the Israeli intelligence agency responsible for collecting scientific and technical intelligence, and was used to inform Israeli military strategy, including the development of the Lavi fighter jet. Pollard's actions were facilitated by his access to classified information at the Naval Intelligence Command and his ability to use United States classified computer systems, including the SIPRNet network.

● Arrest and Conviction

Pollard was arrested on November 21, 1985, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after a tip from a former colleague, and was subsequently charged with espionage under the Espionage Act of 1917. The investigation into Pollard's activities was led by the FBI and involved the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and revealed that Pollard had provided thousands of pages of classified documents to Israel. Pollard's trial was highly publicized, with United States Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger testifying against him, and he was ultimately convicted of espionage in 1987 and sentenced to life in prison. The case was widely condemned by United States officials, including President Ronald Reagan, who stated that Pollard's actions had caused significant harm to United States national security.

● Imprisonment and Release

Pollard was imprisoned at the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina, where he served 30 years of his life sentence before being released on November 20, 2015. During his imprisonment, Pollard's case became a cause célèbre in Israel, with many Israeli politicians, including Benjamin Netanyahu and Shimon Peres, calling for his release. The United States government, however, refused to release Pollard, citing the severity of his crimes and the damage they had caused to United States national security. In 2015, the United States Parole Commission granted Pollard parole, and he was released from prison after serving 30 years of his sentence. After his release, Pollard was required to remain in the United States for five years, during which time he was subject to strict parole conditions, including the use of a GPS monitoring device.

● Aftermath and Controversy

The aftermath of Pollard's release was marked by controversy, with many United States officials, including Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, expressing opposition to his release. The case also sparked a debate about the United States-Israel relationship, with some arguing that Pollard's release was a sign of improved relations between the two countries, while others argued that it was a sign of United States weakness. The Israeli government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, welcomed Pollard's release, and he was granted Israeli citizenship in 1995, while still in prison. The case has also been the subject of numerous books and documentaries, including The Spy Who Loved Israel and Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States.

● Personal Life

Pollard married Anne Henderson in 1985, while he was still in prison, and the couple divorced in 1990. In 1993, Pollard married Esther Zeitz, who had been a vocal advocate for his release. After his release from prison, Pollard moved to New York City, where he was required to remain for five years as a condition of his parole. Pollard has stated that he plans to move to Israel once his parole conditions are lifted, where he will be eligible for a hero's welcome, including a possible meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials. The Israeli government has also offered Pollard a grant of shekels to help him settle in Israel.