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Parole for Pollard revisits divisions over extent of harm

FILE - In this May 15, 1998 file photo, Jonathan Pollard speaks during an interview in a conference room at the Federal Correction Institution in Butner, N.C. Lawyers for the convicted spy Pollard say the U.S. has granted his parole and he will be released in November. Pollard, sentenced to life in prison, has served 30 years for spying for Israel. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker, File) FILE - In this May 15, 1998 file photo, Jonathan Pollard speaks during an interview in a conference room at the Federal Correction Institution in Butner, N.C. Lawyers for the convicted spy Pollard say the U.S. has granted his parole and he will be released in November. Pollard, sentenced to life in prison, has served 30 years for spying for Israel. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker, File)

By Associated Press July 29, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The arrest in 1985 of Jonathan Pollard for spying for Israel touched off one of the most sensational spy cases in recent American history, stoking fierce international passions and decades of legal and diplomatic wrangling.

Thirty years later, Pollard has been granted parole from his life sentence by the U.S. Parole Commission. His release has been set for Nov. 21.

Lawyers for the 60-year-old American say they will ask President Barack Obama for clemency and to allow Pollard to travel to Israel. The White House quickly shot down that prospect, saying Pollard had committed “very serious crimes” and would serve his sentence under the law.

Critics of Pollard condemn him as a traitor while supporters believe he has been punished excessively given that he was spying for an ally.