Clemency Denied for Spy Pollard

Jonathan Pollard, imprisoned more than 10 years ago for spying for Israel, will remain behind bars after President Clinton rejected his plea for clemency. Pollard’s wife, Esther, declared in Israel that she would stage a hunger strike “until death” for his release. She accused Israel’s new prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, of failing to fight hard enough for her husband’s freedom. Clinton’s decision was a blow to Israeli and U.S. Jewish groups, which had campaigned for Pollard’s release from a life sentence. Clinton rejected Pollard’s plea based on the enormity of his crime, his lack of remorse and the damage he caused U.S. security, presidential spokesman Mike McCurry said. A onetime Navy analyst, Pollard was arrested outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington in 1985 and convicted of espionage in 1986. He admitted selling Israel military intelligence documents. Pollard was granted Israeli citizenship this year in hopes that would improve chances for his release.