Israel Matzav

Pollard sues to prevent Eitan from becoming a minister

Jonathan Pollard, who is serving a life sentence in prison in the United States on charges of spying for Israel in the 1980's has filed a petition in the High Court of Justice to prevent Rafi Eitan, his former spymaster and the leader of the Gil Pensioners' party faction division of the Kadima Achora party, from serving as a minister in the new government.

According to YNet, Pollard argued that Eitan's appointment is illegal since he had "forfeited" and "betrayed" him when Pollard was arrested for spying for Israel.

Pollard also asked the court to investigate Eitan's "recklessness" in choosing to operate an American Jewish spy on American soil.

"It is unheard of in the state of Israel that an officer recruits a soldier, uses him and forfeits him. An officer like this cannot serve as minister in Israel," the petition read.

Pollard said Eitan acted "unethically" when he abandoned him and assisted U.S. authorities in putting him on trial.

"As a result of Eitan's actions, Pollard was locked in an American cell while Eitan is free, doing business across the world, and now seeking to fill a top national post as a minister in the Israeli government. A man of the kind is unworthy and cannot be a minister," the petition read.

The petition stated that Eitan had not set foot in the United States since Pollard's arrest and his appointment as government minister is nothing but a muleta waved in the Americans' face.

The Jerusalem Post adds that Pollard's attorneys told the High Court "The appointment of Rafi Eitan as a Government Minister will obviate attempts to bring about Pollard's release and will thus be tantamount to imposing a death sentence on Pollard. The State of Israel has no right to do this. "

According to the Post article above:

Sources close to Pollard warned in early April that if Eitan were appointed a minister in Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government, Pollard would release classified information that could be harmful to Israel.

The sources claimed that the information would be detrimental to every former Israeli prime minister, including senior Kadima MK Shimon Peres, Channel 2 reported.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:19 PM