Prisons Bureau Flip-Flops on Pollard Parole Date

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons has again reversed itself on the status of Jonathan Pollard, reinstating a 2015 release date in its listing for Jonathan Pollard, after it had been changed to Life.

The listing had appeared for several days as Life on the bureau’s website, but on Monday it reverted to Nov. 21, 2015, when the former U.S. Navy analyst convicted of spying for Israel becomes eligible for parole.

Ed Ross, a prisons bureau spokesman, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that both decisions were “administrative,” in the sense that Pollard’s status had not changed, but added that he did not know if either decision — to change the listing to Life and back again — was in error.

Being eligible for parole does not mean Pollard will be released. His advocates say that parole is unlikely because the U.S. government continues to deny Pollard access to classified documents that could win his case.

Pollard advocates noted that the 2015 date must be shown by law and in removing it, the government ripped off its own mask, revealing its true intention not to release him at that time.

“The double-dealing hypocrisy,” they say, “is reflected in the claim by the government’s spokesperson who when asked which entry was a mistake 2015, or Life, responded ‘neither’!

“No one should be calmed or reassured by this flip-flop. It is cosmetic only.”

This article appeared in print on page 7 of the October 20th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.