Chief Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger warned President Barack Obama in a pre-Pesach sermon that he may lose a bid for re-election if he does not free Jonathan Pollard.
Speaking at the Yeshurun Synagogue in Jerusalem, Rabbi Metzger stated, “This is not a prophecy,” but added his feeling is that many Jews who voted for President Obama in 2008 are disappointed by his “apathetic” response to numerous calls to free Pollard.
Pollard is serving a life term in an American prison for passing on to Israel classified information, an offense that usually is met with a prison sentence of two to four years.
Rabbi Metzger added, “Before President Obama forces on us policies [concerning the Palestinian Authority], he should prove his mutual friendliness with the People of Israel by freeing Pollard.” The Chief Rabbi visited Pollard in his prison cell three years ago.
Numerous American officials lately have called for the ailing Pollard to be freed and have admitted that the sentencing was unfair.
Read more: Arutz Sheva.
{Arutz Sheva/Matzav.com Newscenter}
it is scary to make such politically inflamatory statements.until such time as israel doesnt stand as a schnorrer at the gates of american largesse; and until such time as israels own politicians can cleanse themselves of their biases, prejudices, etc., it might be best to seek the golden silence that our chazal suggested in dealing with lev melochim. this is not to imply that the merits in the pollard case dont deserve attention—but the derech is NOT by an intervention in american politics
Obama will get the majority of the Jewish vote regardless of what happens with Pollard.
And Obama will lose the majority of the Orthodox vote, regardless of what happens with Pollard.
How can one be promising to deliver the AMERICAN “Jewish vote” to one party or another?