A Word About Jonathan Pollard..................by Dan Friedman

Shimon Peres’ “peace process” has managed to bring untold tragedy, turmoil and bloodshed to the Israeli people, and at 89, his particular brand of venom is still taking its toll. Today, Peres is in Washington and will be at the White House on Wednesday to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Obama, our country’s highest civilian honor. Peres can add that to his trophy room alongside the Nobel Peace Prize he shared with his “peace partner,” Yasser Arafat.

As now happens when an Israeli dignitary is granted an audience with Obama, word starts to circulate about asking the president to finally release Jonathan Pollard. Unfortunately, Pollard knows after serving 26 years of a life sentence that all requests have been denied by past American presidents – both Democrats and Republicans. Still, this will be a unique opportunity (and maybe the last) for Peres to ask for Pollard’s release in public, in front of the cameras with Obama at his side. Will Peres put up or shut up? Will he actually put some of his skin in the game? Peres is carrying a petition signed by some 70,000 Israelis calling for Pollard's release. But for once, will he speak out about Pollard when and where the world can hear him? I doubt it, but Pollard and the rest of us will have the answer in a few days’ time.