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Pollard was of the opinion that Israeli lives were being put in jeopardy as a result of this U.S. government policy on sharing foreign intelligence information. In stark violation of U.S. law and the pledge he made to the U.S. Navy to protect U.S. intelligence information, Pollard began to illegally provide classified information to Israel directly.<ref>The Facts of the Pollard Case [http://www.jonathanpollard.org/facts.htm Justice for Jonathan Pollard]. Accessed 27 December 2007.</ref> Such disclosure constitutes treason under U.S. law.
Pollard was of the opinion that Israeli lives were being put in jeopardy as a result of this U.S. government policy on sharing foreign intelligence information. In stark violation of U.S. law and the pledge he made to the U.S. Navy to protect U.S. intelligence information, Pollard began to illegally provide classified information to Israel directly.<ref>The Facts of the Pollard Case [http://www.jonathanpollard.org/facts.htm Justice for Jonathan Pollard]. Accessed 27 December 2007.</ref> Such disclosure constitutes treason under U.S. law.
Pollard was put under investigation in 1985 when a coworker anonymously reported his removal of classified information. He was arrested by the FBI at the gates of the Israeli Embassy on November 21, 1985. He had attempted to flee there to seek asylum, but had been forced out by embassy security officials. His wife was also arrested for assisting him, but before her arrest, she managed to warn Aviem Sella, the Israeli Air Force officer who had recruited him. As a result, Pollard's handler, Yossi Yagur, and Irit Erb, an Israeli embassy secretary who took the documents Pollard stole, were also warned. All three managed to flee the US and escape to Israel before the FBI could stop them.
Pollard was put under investigation in 1985 when a coworker anonymously reported his removal of classified information. He was arrested by the FBI at the gates of the Israeli Embassy on November 21, 1985. He had attempted to flee there to seek asylum, but had been forced out by embassy security officials. His wife was also arrested for assisting him, but before her arrest, she managed to warn Aviem Sella, the Israeli Air Force officer who had recruited him. As a result, Pollard's handler, Yossi Yagur, and Irit Erb, an Israeli embassy secretary who took the documents Pollard stole, were also warned. All three managed to flee the US and escape to Israel before the FBI could stop them. Aviem Sella was later indicted by a Federal grand jury. He is currently considered a fugitive from justice by the US government, and is still under Federal indictment.
Pollard pled guilty, and was sentenced to life imprisonment by Federal judge Aubrey Robinson. The reasons for the life sentence are said to be in a classified affidavit provided to the court by US Defense Secretary [[Caspar Weinberger]].
Pollard pled guilty, and was sentenced to life imprisonment by Federal judge Aubrey Robinson. The reasons for the life sentence are believed to be in a classified affidavit provided to the court by US Defense Secretary [[Caspar Weinberger]].
On 11 May 1998, Israel formally acknowledged Pollard had been an Israeli agent, handled by high ranking authorities within Lekem (''Lishkat Kishrei Mada'' "Bureau of Scientific Relations"), which collected scientific and technical intelligence. Lakem was disbanded following Pollard's arrest.<ref>Document: Official Recognition as An Agent by the State of Israel. [http://www.jonathanpollard.org/1998/051198d.htm jonathonpollard.org]. Accessed 27 December 2007.</ref>
On 11 May 1998, Israel formally acknowledged Pollard had been an Israeli agent, handled by high ranking authorities within Lekem (''Lishkat Kishrei Mada'' "Bureau of Scientific Relations"), which collected scientific and technical intelligence. Lakem was disbanded following Pollard's arrest.<ref>Document: Official Recognition as An Agent by the State of Israel. [http://www.jonathanpollard.org/1998/051198d.htm jonathonpollard.org]. Accessed 27 December 2007.</ref>
Israeli Prime Ministers have repeatedly asked for US Presidents to commute Pollard's sentence to the time already served. In 1997, Benjamin Netanyahu made Pollard's release one of the conditions for his signing of the Wye River Agreement with the Palestinians. Bill Clinton was on the verge of freeing Pollard, but backed down when CIA Director George Tenet threatened to resign. Israel mulled exchanging Pollard for Yosef Amit, an Israeli military intelligence officer who was arrested for spying for the United States, but Amit himself torpedoed the proposal. According to a report by Israeli State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, the Israeli government made many efforts to obtain his release, none of which were successful.
==Sentencing controversy==
==Sentencing controversy==