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US 'may release Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard to kickstart peace process' US 'may release Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard to kickstart peace process'
(about 4 hours later)
Jonathan Pollard, serving a life sentence in a US jail for spying for Israel, could be released as part of a putative "grand bargain" to breathe new life into the stalled Middle East peace process. An American currently serving a life sentence in a US jail for spying for Israel could be released as part of a putative 'grand bargain' to breathe life into the stricken Middle East peace process.
Speculation that Pollard's release was being seriously considered by the US re-emerged on Monday as the US secretary of state, John Kerry, flew to the Middle East for the second time in a week for urgent meetings with the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, as the peace talks appeared at crisis point. He is to return on Wednesday for talks in Ramallah with the President Mahmoud Abbas. Indications that the US is considering releasing Jonathan Pollard, currently in his 29th year at a North Carolina prison, came in the last 36 hours amid a frantic round of US diplomacy that could see the secretary of state, John Kerry, back in the Middle East on Wednesday for the third time in a week for talks with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas.
Kerry has been spearheading efforts to find a way out of the current deadlock in the US-sponsored Middle East peace process, which was restarted eight months ago, after Israel failed to release a fourth group of long-term Palestinian prisoners being held in its jails. It had previously agreed to release the group at the weekend. Palestinian officials said that visit was likely to depend on a meeting of political leaders on Tuesday night who were deciding their response to the proposed deal.
As part of his latest efforts Kerry met with Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, on Monday evening and again on Tuesday before flying to Brussels for a Nato crisis meeting on Ukraine.
Kerry has been spearheading efforts to find a way out of the current deadlock in the US-sponsored Middle East peace process, which was restarted eight months ago, after Israel failed to release a fourth group of long-term Palestinian prisoners at the weekend as it had agreed to do.
Sources close to the talks have described a proposed deal that would see Pollard being released in exchange for a far larger release of Palestinian prisoners – up to 400 according to some estimates.
The reported deal would also see a new unofficial freeze on Israeli state settlement construction in the occupied West Bank in return for the Palestinians agreeing to extend the April deadline for talks.
Israel had been seeking a guarantee that the Palestinians would not immediately abandon the latest round of talks when the original deadline for negotiating a framework agreement expires on 29 April.Israel had been seeking a guarantee that the Palestinians would not immediately abandon the latest round of talks when the original deadline for negotiating a framework agreement expires on 29 April.
According to a US official quoted by Haaretz newspaper: "The key would be a big US concession for a big Israeli concession." Pollard has served 29 years of a life sentence and is not due for consideration for parole until next year. "According to the emerging deal, Pollard would be released before the Passover holiday," an official close to the talks said.
Separately the New York Times quoted an official suggesting that Pollard's release was under consideration, although no decision had been taken. A senior Israeli official with knowledge of the negotiations told Haaretz newspaper: "Things are not sealed yet but we are not far from it. We are waiting for the Palestinians' response."
Kerry and Barack Obama have made huge efforts and placed US credibility on the line in their attempts to resuscitate the peace process and usher in a two-state solution. However, hopes that both sides could be persuaded to sign up to a framework agreement that would lay the ground work for substantive talks on the key issues – including the future of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the status of Jerusalem and the right of return of Palestinian refugees – have hit a series of obstacles. A key issue for the Palestinian side will be the very partial and non-binding nature of the proposed settlement freeze. "The (new) settlement freeze does not include East Jerusalem, private construction or building of public institutions," an Israeli source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
At present the talks are blocked over efforts to find a way to continue the period of negotiations beyond the end of April. Another official involved said the Israeli government "will adopt a policy of restraint when it comes to state tenders for construction" in the West Bank.
On the Palestinian side, officials are insisting that Israel abide by its agreement over the scheduled prisoner release, which they say must not be linked to an extension of the talks deadline. The shape of the emerging deal was being briefed heavily by Israeli and US officials amid little apparent enthusiasm on the Palestinian side, which has been seeking a comprehensive freeze on Israeli settlement building in the occupied territories.
Abbas has been seeking US mediation, including by Obama, for the release of three of the most prominent Palestinian prisoners including, most significantly, senior Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti. The deal as described would also fall far short of Palestinian ambitions from the talks, appearing to benefit Netanyahu most by extending the period of talks well into 2015 despite no progress on the core issues, while handing him the valuable political prize of Pollard's release.
However, sources close to the talks suggested overnight that Pollard's release was being linked to a potential deal that would see a much larger release of Palestinian prisoners – up to 400 – and an unofficial freeze on Israeli settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem in exchange for both sides agreeing to extend the April deadline. Despite a discernible lack of enthusiasm for the deal from Palestinian officials, they are acutely conscious of being manoeuvred into a position where they can be portrayed as the party torpedoing the peace talks not least – they argue – because it was Israel's refusal to release the latest batch of prisoners that brought the talks to the brink of collapse.
Pollard's release as part of such a deal, however, is being opposed by some of his most prominent supporters including the hardline Israeli housing minister, Uri Ariel, a member of Netanyahu's cabinet. The emerging deal is also not guaranteed of support within Netanyahu's government with some right wing MPs in his ruling coalition threatening to walk out if any further Palestinian prisoners are released.
Ariel told Israel's Army Radio that Pollard did not want to be freed from a US jail in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, saying people close to the convicted spy had told him that Pollard opposed such a "shameful deal". Kerry and Barack Obama have put huge effort and US credibility on the line in their attempts to resuscitate the peace process, and usher in a two-state solution.
Ariel's comments echo similar remarks made to the Guardian last week by the Knesset's deputy speaker, and long-term campaigner on Pollard's behalf, Moshe Feiglin. He has visited Pollard in jail and has long insisted that he would refuse to be released in exchange "for terrorists". However hopes that both sides could be persuaded to sign up to a 'framework agreement' that would lay the ground work for substantive talks on the key issues, including the future of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the status of Jerusalem and over the right of return of Palestinian refugees, have hit a series of obstacles.
Realistically, however, he is unlikely to have any say in the circumstances of his release. Pollard's release as part of such a deal, however, is being opposed by some of his most prominent supporters including the hard-line Israeli housing minister Uri Ariel, a member of Netanyahu's cabinet.
Pollard, who was arrested in 1985, was a civilian intelligence analyst for the US navy when he gave classified documents to Israeli handlers. He was granted Israeli citizenship in 1995. Ariel told Israel's Army Radio that Pollard opposed being freed from a US jail in exchange for Palestinians prisoners, saying people close to the convicted spy have told him that he opposes such a "shameful deal". Pollard waived a planned parole hearing on Tuesday according to officials at the prison in Butner, North Carolina, where he is being held.
Kerry met Netanyahu for several hours late on Monday before sitting down with him again on Tuesday morning before his scheduled departure for Brussels for Nato talks on Ukraine, he did not meet Abbas, instead holding talks with Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. Realistically, however, Pollard is unlikely to have any say in the circumstances of his release.
US defence and intelligence officials have long argued against releasing Pollard. The president and his predecessors have refused to release him despite pleas from Israeli leaders. Pollard was a civilian intelligence analyst for the US Navy when he gave classified documents to Israeli handlers. He was arrested in 1985 and granted Israeli citizenship in 1995.
On Monday, White House spokesman Jay Carney declined to discuss any possible deal. US defence and intelligence officials have long argued against releasing Pollard and President Obama and his predecessors have refused to release him, despite pleas from Israeli leaders.