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| Pro Pollard protest |
(Scroll down for video) A large protest was held to express the extreme disappointment about the Pollard imprisonment which now reached 10,000 days, according to video uploaded to the internet.
By Aryeh Savir
Tazpit News Agency For
YourJewishNews.com
A demonstration for Jonathan Pollard was held on Monday evening (Apr. 9) in front of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, where U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is staying during his visit to Israel.
The event marked 10,000 of Pollard's incarceration in an American prison. The protesters called on Kerry to act for Pollard's release. Pollard's wife, Esther, stated: "We can't comprehend the meaning of 10,000 days in prison. I request that he be showed compassion and mercy. It is impossible to fathom the remorse and soul searching that cuts Jonathan's heart."
There is a rising awareness throughout the Israeli public regarding Pollard's prolonged imprisonment. Tensions grew especially around US President Obama's visit to Israel at the end of March. Hopes were high that he would bring Pollard with him to Israel as a goodwill gesture to the Israeli people, and in honor of the pending Passover holiday.
A few hours before President Obama landed in Israel thousands of people demonstrated in front of the Jerusalem residence of President Shimon Peres, calling on the U.S. president to release Pollard. An online petition calling on Obama to release Pollard was signed by more than 200,000 people and was presented to him by President Peres.
Obama stated he would consider the issue. Freed IDF soldier Gilad Shalit signed the petition and called on everyone to do so as well: "Freedom is a gift and a prerogative… please help save Pollard", he wrote in a Facebook post.
Before Passover, Housing Minister Uri Ariel and Bayit Yehudi MK Ayelet Shaked held a “model Seder” in honor of Pollard, calling on Israelis and Jews all over the world to place an empty chair at the Seder table in honor of Pollard. Shaked, who heads the Knesset lobby for the release of Pollard, said during the event that she was very moved by the support of members of Knesset from across the political spectrum for the cause of Pollard's freedom.
“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Peres must look at the people in this room and realize that there is no time to waste, not even a day. The issue of Pollard's freedom is in their hands,” said Shaked. “I also ask that American Jewry do what they can to free Pollard, and for President Obama not to harden his heart and free Jonathan.”Mobile video not loading? Click here to view