Israeli spy Pollard could be released on parole in November

Jonathan Pollard, the American naval intelligence official who spied for Israel, could be released in November after serving out his sentence, the Justice Department said Friday.

But officials denied that there was any link between Pollard’s impending parole and attempts to mollify Israel over this month’s nuclear agreement with Iran.

“Mr. Pollard’s status will be determined by the United States Parole Commission according to standard procedures,” said Alistair Baskey, a National Security Council spokesman. “There is absolutely zero linkage between Mr. Pollard’s status and foreign policy considerations.”

Pollard was arrested in 1985 on charges that he sold Israel highly sensitive information, including details that prosecutors have said allowed the Soviet Union to identify U.S. agents there. The scandal caused a rupture in U.S. Israel relations and also between Israel and the U.S. Jewish community.

The U.S. intelligence community has adamantly fought previous campaigns to grant clemency for Pollard, whose detention became rallying cry in Israel.

But in November, Pollard, who is 60, will have served out the required 30 years of his life sentence. Under the laws in place at the time, that will make him eligible for release unless the parole board intervenes.

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