Resolution on The Commutation of Jonathan Pollard’s Sentence

Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly has passed three resolutions (1992, 1994 and 1995) supporting clemency for Jonathan Pollard;

Whereas this past year marked twenty-five years of incarceration for Jonathan Pollard;

Whereas his sentence of life in prison abrogated the plea bargain with the federal prosecutor signed in June 1986, and now leaves Pollard serving a longer sentence than any other person convicted not of treason, but of the lesser crime of spying for a friendly nation;

Whereas Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a letter to President Barack Obama dated January 4, 2011, issued the first official written request from the government of Israel for clemency, noting that “Both Mr. Pollard and the Government of Israel have repeatedly expressed remorse for these actions, and Israel will continue to abide by its commitment that such wrongful actions will never be repeated”; and

Whereas members of the United States Congress and former security officials have recently joined with leaders of American Jewish organizations to appeal to President Obama to commute Pollard’s sentence to time served.

Therefore be it resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly urge President Obama to commute the sentence of Jonathan J. Pollard to time served;

Be it further resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly join with other organizations to attain clemency for Mr. Pollard; and

Be it further resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly urge any and all American Jewish organizations which have not publicly taken a stand in support of Jonathan Pollard to do so at this time.

Passed by the Rabbinical Assembly Plenum, March, 2011