Politics
REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Jonathan Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence officer convicted of spying for Israel, exits following a hearing at the Manhattan Federal Courthouse in New York City, U.S., May 17, 2017.
- Jonathan Pollard is a convicted spy who served 30 years of a life term after spying on the US for Israel.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked President Donald Trump to allow Pollard to immigrate to Israel.
- Israel may be trying to capitalize on goodwill projects that have recently gone into effect to benefit the Palestinians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked President Donald Trump to allow Jonathan Pollard - a convicted spy - to immigrate to Israel, according to Channel 2 news.
Pollard was released in November 2015 after serving 30 years of a life term in a US prison. During his time in prison, Israeli officials repeatedly sought to secure his release.
The former Navy intelligence officer pleaded guilty to spying for Israel from June 1984 until his arrest in November 1985.
Israel may be trying to capitalize on goodwill projects that have recently gone into effect to benefit the Palestinians.
Pollard's parole terms, according to the Times of Israel, "require him to stay in his New York home from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., to submit any computer he uses for inspection, and to wear a GPS monitoring device at all times."
Netanyahu reportedly told the Trump administration that Pollard would continue to be subject to the same restrictions if he was allowed to immigrate to Israel.