Sentencing of Pollard Postponed

Sentencing of Jonathan Pollard, a former U.S. Navy civilian intelligence analyst who has pleaded guilty to spying for Israel, which was to have taken place Tuesday has been postponed until March 4.

The delay was at the request of the lawyers for Pollard, who could be sentenced to a maximum of life imprisonment. Also to be sentenced is his wife, Anne Henderson Pollard, who has pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive embezzled government property and faces up to 10 years in prison.

Both Pollards entered their pleas last June before Chief Judge Aubrey Robinson Jr. of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Pollard has been in federal prison in Petersburg, Va., while his wife has been free on bail.

While Pollard has admitted to receiving $2,500 a month for his espionage activities, he has maintained in interviews and a letter to a Boston doctor that he is a “loyal son” of Israel and acted when he discovered that a “new generation of ultra-sophisticated military equipment” was going to the Arab countries without Israel being told about this new danger in its security.

Meanwhile, it was reported Tuesday that the Justice Department may move against four Israelis implicated in the Pollard espionage case which Israel has officially called a “renegade” operation.

The Justice Department has reportedly told Avi Sella, a senior Israel Air Force commander, who was identified as Pollard’s first “handler,” that he may be indicted.

The Justice Department is also planning to revoke the diplomatic immunity of three other Israelis involved with Pollard–Rafael Eitan, a former terrorism advisor to Israeli Premiers; Joseph Yagur, a former science consul at the Israel Consulate in New York, and Irit Erb, a former secretary at the Israel Embassy here.

None are expected to stand trial. But if they return to the U.S. they would be subject to arrest.