Former US intelligence analyst who spied on US for Israel considering Knesset run
American-Israeli Jonathan Pollard, who spied for Israel during his time in the U.S. Naval Intelligence Command, is considering a run to become a Member of the Israeli Knesset.
After spending 30 years in a U.S. prison and five years on parole for illegally sharing scores of classified U.S. intelligence documents with Israel, Pollard relocated to Israel in 2020.
Netanyahu was filmed greeting Pollard on the tarmac in Israel, despite having promised President-elect Donald Trump he would not bring attention to the matter, according to Pollard.
“Bibi had promised Trump in writing: no publicity,” Pollard said referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. “I should have known better, but I saw all the cameramen when we were coming in for the landing.”
While Pollard previously offered to work with both Netanyahu and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, he now seeks to unite the various right-wing factions in Israel.
“My goal is to unite those in the ideological right who love Israel and want to contribute to the state,” The Jerusalem Post quoted Pollard as saying. “National service, whether in the IDF or another framework, is a critical issue for me. Everyone, without exception, must serve the state in some way.”
While seeking to bring unity to Israel's right-wing government, Pollard said he would not work with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
“I don’t believe [Bennett] after he promised his voters he wouldn’t align with the left, and then formed a government with them,” Pollard said. “Politics is politics, but honesty and loyalty to your promises are fundamental, and that’s what Bennett lacks.”
The Jerusalem Post reported that “Pollard’s potential involvement could add approximately three seats to any right-wing party he joins.”
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
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