JERUSALEM, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu plans to ask U.S. President Barack Obama to release Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard.
"I intend to continue to act with determination to free Pollard, both because of the ethical obligation Israel has toward him and because Jonathan should have the right to live with his family and rehabilitate his health after so many years in jail," Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office Tuesday.
"He will issue the request at the time that is best to bring Pollard home," a Netanyahu aide told The Jerusalem Post. The aide speculated Netanyahu will make the request before Christmas.
In response to Netanyahu's statement, U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said the issue has been raised by Netanyahu "from time to time, both in his current incarnation and in his previous incarnation. All I can tell you is Jonathan Pollard remains in prison."
At the daily press briefing in Washington, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said he was unaware of any recent discussion of the issue between Netanyahu and Obama.
Netanyahu met with Pollard's wife Esther Monday and also with Lawrence Korb, who at the time of Pollard's arrest was assistant U.S. defense secretary, Haaretz said. The two handed Netanyahu a letter from Pollard asking that Israel request his release.
Pollard, a U.S. citizen, worked as a Navy intelligence analyst and 25 years ago was arrested on suspicion of handing over classified U.S. documents to Israel.
In 1987 a federal court found him guilty of spying and imposed a life sentence. He is held in a federal prison in North Carolina.
