Last Saturday we heard of the death of Prof. Morris Pollard, father of Jonathan Pollard, the convicted Israeli spy who has been rotting away in an American jail for over 25 years. Pollard the son, who asked to see his dying father, was refused. His request to attend his father's funeral was also rejected. Pollard's story is tragic, and not only because it represents the continued abuse by a state, a superpower, of a private individual. The truth must be told: As far as the Americans are concerned, Pollard broke the law and for this he is being punished. One can understand that. However, what's disturbing about this story is that, as the years pass, the reality that Pollard is a victim of conflicting interests, becomes more salient. Pollard is no longer a private person whose unusual punishment has raised questions about America's values. Pollard is a victim of the struggle between a superpower, with its own clear interests, and a small and friendly country which cannot completely align itself with the interests of the superpower - which normally acts as her ally, but finds it hard to disagree with her. Pollard operated in a friendly country and didn't endanger America's security. Despite this, in America's eyes he betrayed the trust placed in him, and was therefore charged with espionage and sentenced to jail time. Thus far, a reasonable and justifiable story. However, at a certain point Pollard's story departs from the personal and becomes an important factor in the US-Israel relationship. In this equation, the Americans hold Pollard as a bargaining chip and a hostage, meant to remind Israel that disobedience to its great friend comes at a heavy, painful price, a price which for Jews touches an exposed nerve - the redemption of prisoners. As opposed to the Dreyfuss Affair, this is not about anti-Semitism. Pollard, as noted, actually committed the crimes he was charged with. However, America's stubborn refusal to pardon him, despite the long years he's already spent in jail, and despite his ill health, is a painful one. Furthermore, America's intransigence in not releasing him, even for a few short hours to say goodbye to his father, clouds its warm relationship with Israel and the Jewish people. It feels strange to say it, but the US administration's behavior towards Pollard and Israel is reminiscent of Syria's treatment of Israel's other spy, Eli Cohen. This has nothing to do with punishment and everything to do with abuse, plain and simple. Caught in the crossfire are America's Jews, who on the one hand crave Pollard's freedom, while on the other hand find it hard to campaign on his behalf, lest they be accused of dual loyalty, as many anti-Semites are trying to claim. Despite the fact that Israel has a clear interest in avoiding a clash with the U.S. administration, as the country that sent Pollard on his mission, Israel has a debt to this man, who acted in accordance with its security needs, be his motives what they may. Israel did the right thing by making an official request for his release. America truly is our greatest friend, in the deepest economic, security, and diplomatic sense of the word, but that still does not give it the right to abuse Israeli citizens as revenge for its disappointment with the policies of this or that Israeli government.
