"We do not owe him anything, this affair has caused damage to Israel," he told Maariv.
"He was an American spy who worked for a lot of money"
Photography:
Moshe Shai, AP
"I am happy that Jonathan Pollard has freedom of movement, which will remain in New York":
Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was interviewed today (Sunday) by Maariv's "Business Summit" and commented on the removal of restrictions on the Israeli spy.
As you may recall, last Friday it was reported that the U.S. Parole Board had decided not to renew Pollard's release conditions. He is expected to immigrate to Israel when his wife Esther's health condition allows it.
"There are very few people in the country, maybe five, who know this affair as well as I do. The reason is that I dealt with it in all incarnations, from participating in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee's Subcommittee on Secret Services to other positions I held, including the Prime Minister." Said Olmert.
He said, "I tried to help shorten his detention period without success. I also talked about it with President Bush. Dealing with this case causes ongoing and severe damage to the State of Israel. I recommend avoiding Pollard's reception celebrations if he decides to come to Israel. Removal of traffic restrictions was not considered. "Until now, but because America is in a very special period with a very special president and a very special atmosphere. There is a total disintegration of all the norms of conduct, otherwise they would not have allowed him."
"Huge damage to strategic interests"
The former prime minister claimed: "Let Israel strengthen the damage that this affair and our conduct has caused us over the years. I am not free to speak unfortunately about the most sensitive, material and strategically dangerous matters for the State of Israel," he noted.
Olmert directly attacked Prime Minister Netanyahu: "I see fit to say these things in the sharpest way because I see how the crook who heads the government today will try to celebrate Pollard's introduction.
He will receive it as they received Gilad Shalit.
If necessary, he will also give Hamas some 500 killers so he can get Pollard - and do not ask me how and what.
I tell you that this affair still has the potential to do enormous damage to first-rate strategic interests. "He said senior U.S. defense officials who would remain in office after Trump was ousted" will come to terms with us if we continue to exploit this affair as we do for domestic Israeli politics. " .
Olmert added that he "prefers that with all due respect, Pollard does not immigrate to Israel. We do not owe him anything, sorry, he was an American spy who worked for a lot of money, he is not a Zionist volunteer who sacrificed his life."
