When good intentions cost dearly

Jonathan Pollard is finally free. He was held behind bars for 30 years. This lengthy incarceration was borderline cruel, as was clearly on display when he was barred from attending his parents' funerals. Now he is on parole. In this new era, he will be subject to constant surveillance because of other spies who were tried after him and released before him. Nevertheless, he is now his own man. He will lead a private life, champion his own causes.

But, for Israel, it is time to take stock.

The Pollard affair was highly damaging to Israel-U.S. relations. The damage to America's Jews was immense, as well. In the grand scheme of things, it was not worth it. Even though Israel's defense establishment believed the extensive intelligence Pollard provided was essential, the damage outweighed the benefits. According to foreign media, Israel has over the years been involved in a whole host of controversial affairs around the world, leading to arrests and plea bargains. Since there is no way of knowing which spooks are going to be outed, there is always the question of whether things could be done differently. Should Israel have ended its intelligence operations around the world as a means of averting the Pollard mishap?

Some believe that Israel's problematic decision to recruit Pollard was necessary because, at the time, it simply had no choice but explore all intelligence avenues. But was it worth it despite the disgrace brought about by the Pollard affair? There is no definite answer, despite the heavy toll on the bilateral relations and the status of American Jews.

Pollard's recruitment and handling as an intelligence asset was a botched Israeli operation that was a result of the over-the-top rivalry between the Mossad and the Bureau of Scientific Relations. Such a sensitive undertaking should have been left to the Mossad. Alternatively, Israel should have handed it over to the exclusive handling of the Bureau of Scientific Relations. These turf wars pale in comparison to Israel's mismanagement of the affair once Pollard was arrested. The U.S. was initially inclined to turn the page; it did not want seek retribution. But it eventually turned hostile because Israel refused to come clean.

The lack of Israeli cooperation was a consequence of the Bus 300 Affair, in which the Shin Bet security agency carried out extrajudicial killing of terrorists in 1984. That affair saw a major clash between law enforcement (represented by then attorney general and the state attorney) and the Israeli government. The question revolved around the punishment that would be imposed on the Shin Bet agents at fault.

In the wake of that affair, the government decided to sideline the state attorney and attorney general after Pollard was exposed. Israeli Prime Ministers Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir were responsible for this decision. Rather than use the experienced legal hands, they handed the matter to a committee whose members, however distinguished, lacked the necessary expertise. The committee stonewalled and tried to hide the truth. When Washington realized this, it doubled down on its outrage, an outrage that was felt until Friday morning. If there is one takeaway from this misadventure it is that the government must never circumvent the State Attorney's Office and the rule of law, even if there is a false impression that this could help it.

Let us all wish Pollard a life of happiness and liberty, and that he regains what he lost. He meant well, but paid dearly.

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