After 30 years behind bars, Jonathan Pollard is set to be freed later today. Convicted on espionage charges for passing classified information to Israel while working for the U.S. Navy, Pollard has long been a matter of controversy—here and abroad.

Opinions in the Jewish community vary. I’ve heard him called everything from a traitor to a hero. Either way, everyone seems to have strong feelings about him, his case, and what it represents. According to Elliot Goldenberg’s The Hunting Horse, Pollard was always driven by ideological reasons and was lured by rogue Mossad agents that used him. His (many) detractors claim it was about money and nothing more.

Personally, I do think it was ideology (yes, he received some cash and gifts, but Pollard has always been a committed Zionist, and that was his main focus). Regardless of his motivation, what he did was 100% wrong. He violated his security clearance knowingly, fully aware that he was committing a serious crime. That said, giving him a life sentence was unbelievably harsh. I don’t condone his actions, but I think he is entitled to a parole and will not pose a continuing threat.

The thing that has always bothered me most about this case is the old
“divided loyalties” argument. Because Pollard is Jewish and he passed material to Israel, it only perpetuated the false stereotype that Jews care more about Israel than America. So not true!

Each individual Jew is only responsible for their own actions. Pollard’s choice was his and his alone, and the community shouldn’t have to suffer because of his mistake. For decades, he’s requested to leave America and resettle in Israel with his wife. {As a side note, Esther Pollard is incredibly fascinating in her own right. They couple met and married behind bars and she has been a tireless advocate on his behalf, giving endless interviews and maintaining a website.}

Due to federal parole rules, he can’t leave the country for a minimum of 5 years, and the Obama administration is refusing to intervene—pretty much guaranteeing this circus will continue. I expect to see interviews, a book deal, and maybe a movie. Sometimes I think the Pollard case will truly never end…