The Holiday of Freedom

16 Nisan 5772
Day One of the Omer

Esther Pollard: Don't Make Me a Widow

“The time has come to free Jonathan Pollard. The Jewish people’s holiday of freedom should become his personal holiday of freedom,” the Prime Minister declared.

“I have done much, and will continue to do much, to obtain his release,” Netanyahu added.

Earlier in the day Pollard’s wife, Esther, met with President Shimon Peres and made an impassioned plea for Israel’s government to do all that it can to free her husband. “Jonathan’s strength is fading,” she said. “I’m asking you to get him released. I don’t want to be Jonathan’s widow.”

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef has also asked Peres to do what he can for Pollard. In a meeting on Sunday morning in honor of Passover, Rabbi Yosef noted Peres’ good relationship with U.S. President Barack Obama, and said, “Pollard is not healthy, and we must do everything we can to free him.”

Pollard Remains in Critical Conditon in Hospital
The Committee for Pollard says they hope and pray Jonathan Pollard will survive his current health crisis and will be granted clemency.

...Jonathan Pollard was rushed on Friday to a hospital several miles from FCI Butner in North Carolina, where he is incarcerated, following a “serious deterioration” in his condition.

It was reported on Friday that Pollard had very sharp pains, but the precise nature of the problem or its actual severity remains unknown.

Members of the Committee for Pollard said "there is a serious concern the present;; pains may represent a life-threatening crisis."

They also expressed hope that, should Pollard survive the current crisis, US President Barack Obama would grant clemency to Pollard so that he does not have to return to prison.

They say Pollard's poor condition, even if he survives the current crisis, would make a return to prison "a dangerous gamble with his life."

The Committee for Pollard established a situation room in the US in order to communicate with officials there.

Please pray for Yehonatan ben Malka.