Pollard in return for a 'settlments freeze'?

Via Friday-Lunch-Club

That's disgusting.

"...Israeli officials are mulling a possible deal under which Israel would extend a partial West Bank settlement freeze due to expire later this month in exchange for the U.S. releasing Jonathan Pollard, serving a life sentence for spying for Israel, Israel Army Radio News reported, via the English-language Israeli Press Review:

“Officials in Jerusalem are examining an initiative in which the construction freeze in Judea and Samaria will be extended in exchange for the release of the Israeli spy, Jonathan Pollard, from prison in the U.S. The proponents of the initiative assess that this would enable many of the right wing ministers to swallow the bitter pill, as they put it, of extending the freeze.

A political source said that this possibility also arose in a discussion held by the Prime Minister’s Bureau, but said that it was one of many ideas. A private source, who has ties with Palestinian and American officials, says that a few days ago an associate of the prime minister asked him to check secretly and unofficially with administration officials whether such an initiative was feasible. The source conveyed the request, but it is not known how, if at all, the Americans responded to the idea. In addition, various sources say that in public opinion polls held recently by the Prime Minister’s Bureau, the respondents were asked whether they would support an extension to the freeze in exchange for Pollard’s release.

An Israeli Embassy official told POLITICO this morning it’s the first he’s heard of such a proposal and has no guidance whatsoever on it.

Former U.S. Middle East peace negotiator Aaron Miller told me that the idea has come up in past U.S.-Israeli negotiations involving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his first term in the late 1990s.

“Netanyahu tried this at Wye river -- Pollard's release for doing the interim deal with the Palestinians,” Miller said by e-mail. Then U.S. President Bill “Clinton was wavering. [Then CIA director] George Tenet threatened to resign if Pollard was released. The issue went the way of the dodo; but it always turns up in some form like a bad penny.” 

U.S. officials contacted didn't immediately respond to queries on the matter.

Separately, following a call Netanyahu did with U.S. Jewish leaders today, Netanyahu advisor Ron Dermer took questions. "Sure doesn't sound like they're going to give on settlements," one listener said. "They see it as a test of [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud] Abbas's commitment to the talks." ..."

Posted by G, Z, or B at 4:06 PM

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