The head of a New York-based group that combats anti-Semitism says the way the U.S. is treating a convicted Jewish-American spy verges on anti-Semitism.
Jonathan Pollard was a civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy when he gave thousands of classified documents to Israel. Pollard was arrested in 1985 and sentenced to life in prison. Israeli governments and high-ranking former U.S. officials have called for his release.
Abraham Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, says there is no reason why Pollard remains incarcerated when spies convicted of far more serious crimes have walked free.
Foxman told Israel’s Army Radio on Tuesday the only explanation is someone is trying to teach the American-Jewish community a lesson in loyalty and “that to me is on the verge of anti-Semitism.”
(AP)
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3 Responses
Mr. Foxman is being either naive or overly generous, the disparity in how Jonathan Pollard, Rubashkin, and others are being treated is not on the verge of Anti-Semitism. Comparing their treatment to that given to non-Jews, for far more heinous crimes it reflects Outright ANTI-Semitism
of the highest order.
We all have to stop talking so softly, hoping to ingratiate ourselves with the goyim, and call a spade a spade.
Hashem declared, “Aisav sonei l’Yaacov”, that’s how it’s been, is, and will continue to be at least “ad bias Goel”.
And perhaps Hashem has done so, to teach us that a Yid always has to behave judiciously and straight, perhaps even what seems “lifnim meshuras hadin” straight.
Unfortunately, today most of us are falling short of the judiciously and straight nowhere near the lifnim meshuras hadin.
There is a vast amount of Chilul Hashem caused by the actions of even some very Orthodox Jews, and Chreidim.
And perhaps this is the cause of so much of the unseemly tzoros that we are hearing about and experiencing daily.
One of the most hurtful things for Jews is false claims of anti-Semitism. I know (not personally, but as a public figure) Mr. Foxman, and I don’t know “Bubby B”. Mr. Foxman is reasonable, and we must always be on the alert for anti-Semitism. However, there is little evidence that Mr. Pollard is being dealt with more harshly than other convicted spies. He stole enormous amounts of information that he was sworn to protect, and he pleaded guilt to very serious espionage crimes that carried very heavy sentences. There is no assurance that the Israeli recipients of Mr. Pollard’s stolen information were able to protect it any better than the US could, and there is no assurance that Pollard’s “booty” did not wind up in the hands of US enemies. I do not claim to know very much about Mr. Pollard’s espionage, but I see no basis for concluding that his time in prison reflects anything other than the severity of his crimes, and no basis for believing he is an object of anti-Semitic sentencing.
Efforts to end his incarceration have been strong and regular, and many people expected President GW Bush to commute Pollard’s sentence or otherwise free him. That did not happen, notwithstanding the supposed strength of Bush’s support for Israel and Jews.
“Comparing their treatment to that given to non-Jews, for far more heinous crimes it reflects Outright ANTI-Semitism of the highest order. ”
Absolute nonsense.
John Walker got the same life sentence as Pollard.
Jerry Whitworth got 365 years.
Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen got life without parole.
Pollard only got a life sentence because he and his then wife broke their plea agreements. And he has been eligible for parole for 18 years yet has never applied.
Foxman is smart enough to know better. There is plenty of real anti-Semitism around; he doesn’t have to make stuff up.