Jonathan Pollard filed a court challenge against the appointment of his former Israeli handler to the Olmert government. Israeli lawyers for the convicted spy filed a petition Monday with the High Court of Justice, arguing that Rafi Eitan of the pensioners’ party Gil is unworthy of being a government official. Eitan was head of the Israeli intelligence unit Lakam when he recruited Pollard, then a U.S. Navy analyst. Pollard, who is serving a life prison sentence in North Carolina for spying for Israel, accuses Eitan of “abandoning him in the field.” Eitan took responsibility for the scandal that erupted when Pollard was arrested and has vowed to lobby from the Knesset for the spy’s release. He is to take the health portfolio in the new government.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.