JERUSALEM - Israel has proposed freeing a leader of the Palestinian uprising if the United States releases Jonathan Pollard, the former Pentagon analyst convicted of spying for the Jewish state, Army Radio reported Sunday.
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The report said Israel would free Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences for masterminding deadly attacks, in return for Pollard. Pollard is serving a life sentence in a federal prison for selling military secrets to Israel in the 1980s.
The report said the deal has been proposed by officials in Israel's Foreign Ministry. The ministry declined comment, and U.S. Embassy spokesman Stewart Tuttle called the report "ridiculous speculation."
"As far as I know, it has no basis in reality," Tuttle said.
Army Radio quoted Israeli security officials as saying that the release of Barghouti, a leading figure in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party, could help Fatah wrest power back from the Islamic militant group Hamas and restore stability on the Palestinian street.
Hamas defeated Fatah in January legislative elections, and its new government took office last month. The United States, Europe and Israel have cut ties with the Palestinian government and stopped transferring money to it.
Pollard was working as a civilian naval analyst for the Pentagon when he was arrested in 1985, and pleaded guilty. His case remains a sticking point in U.S.-Israel relations, and Israel has repeatedly lobbied American presidents for his pardon. Since Pollard's sentencing, Israel has granted him citizenship.
Last month's election of Pollard's former handler, Rafi Eitan, to the Israeli parliament has drawn new attention to his plight. Eitan has said he would like to see Pollard go free, while defending the original espionage operation.
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court which declined to give Pollard access to records that could bolster his case for presidential clemency.
In January, Israel's Supreme Court refused to grant Pollard the title of Prisoner of Zion, which would required the government to do all it can to get him released. The status was originally created for Jewish activists imprisoned in the Soviet Union in the 1970s and '80s.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060416...k3gUDWs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b3JuZGZhBHNlYwM3MjE-
Now I didn't think allies spied on Allies. But I could always be wrong.
ADVERTISEMENT
What do you think will help the market most in coming years?
Tax reform
Low interest rates
Consumer confidence
The report said Israel would free Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences for masterminding deadly attacks, in return for Pollard. Pollard is serving a life sentence in a federal prison for selling military secrets to Israel in the 1980s.
The report said the deal has been proposed by officials in Israel's Foreign Ministry. The ministry declined comment, and U.S. Embassy spokesman Stewart Tuttle called the report "ridiculous speculation."
"As far as I know, it has no basis in reality," Tuttle said.
Army Radio quoted Israeli security officials as saying that the release of Barghouti, a leading figure in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party, could help Fatah wrest power back from the Islamic militant group Hamas and restore stability on the Palestinian street.
Hamas defeated Fatah in January legislative elections, and its new government took office last month. The United States, Europe and Israel have cut ties with the Palestinian government and stopped transferring money to it.
Pollard was working as a civilian naval analyst for the Pentagon when he was arrested in 1985, and pleaded guilty. His case remains a sticking point in U.S.-Israel relations, and Israel has repeatedly lobbied American presidents for his pardon. Since Pollard's sentencing, Israel has granted him citizenship.
Last month's election of Pollard's former handler, Rafi Eitan, to the Israeli parliament has drawn new attention to his plight. Eitan has said he would like to see Pollard go free, while defending the original espionage operation.
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court which declined to give Pollard access to records that could bolster his case for presidential clemency.
In January, Israel's Supreme Court refused to grant Pollard the title of Prisoner of Zion, which would required the government to do all it can to get him released. The status was originally created for Jewish activists imprisoned in the Soviet Union in the 1970s and '80s.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060416...k3gUDWs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b3JuZGZhBHNlYwM3MjE-
Now I didn't think allies spied on Allies. But I could always be wrong.