The former IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who was freed in October 2011 after more than five years in Hamas captivity, joined the call on US President Barack Obama to release Jonathan Pollard, who has been serving a life sentence in a US jail since 1987 for spying for Israel. Shalit on Monday signed an online petition asking Obama to commute Pollard's life sentence to time served. "I have signed a petition, and call on you to do the same. Freedom is a great gift and privilege," Shalit posted on his Facebook account. "I thank those who worked for my release, and now I ask you to join the struggle to save Pollard."
More than 150,000 Israelis have signed the petition. The petition, which appears in Hebrew and English, was placed online a month ago. It will be hand-delivered to Obama during his visit to Israel later this month, according to the Justice for Jonathan Pollard organization.
Pollard's wife, Esther, also appealed to Obama on Monday during an interview with Israel's 'Channel 2'. “Mr. President, all Jonathan and I are asking for is your compassion, your compassion and your mercy," she said in English. She added: "The greatest dream that Jonathan and I have is that he will be home for Passover this year, to sit next to me at the Passover seder, to drink his cup of wine, finally, after 28 years, as a free man."
Pollard, a civilian US Navy intelligence analyst who spied for Israel, was sentenced to life in prison in 1987 despite a plea bargain in which he admitted his guilt.
