A group of Knesset faction chairmen on Wednesday sent a letter to U.S. Vice President Joe Biden requesting clemency for Jonathan Pollard, who is serving a life sentence in the U.S. after being convicted of spying for Israel. "We are turning to you with a heartfelt request: that you act with kindness and mercy toward the ill Jonathan Pollard, and limit his punishment as a humanitarian gesture to the Jewish people ahead of the Passover holiday, the holiday of freedom," read part of the letter sent to Biden by Uri Ariel (National Union-National Religious Party) and other MKs.
Ariel heads the campaign in Israel to free Jonathan Pollard.
"Passover, our nation's holiday of freedom is fast approaching, but our happiness is clouded by the knowledge that Jonathan Pollard has been jailed in the U.S. for 25 years and his health has worsened recently," the letter continued.
"Jonathan expressed regret for his actions and received harsh punishment, despite the fact that others were sentenced for similar crimes in the U.S. The punishment for the type of crime committed by Jonathan is two to four years."
The MKs also noted that in previous interviews Biden has said that the request for a shortened sentence for Pollard is absolutely rational.
Pollard, a former civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy, sold military secrets to Israel while working at the Pentagon. He was arrested in 1985 and pleaded guilty at his trial.
