One month after his parole restrictions were lifted and five years after he was released from federal prison after serving 30 years for spying for Israel, Jonathan Pollard landed in Israel early Wednesday. He was accompanied by יis wife Esther on the flight.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Pollard and his wife upon their arrival.
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A statement by the Prime Minister's Office said the two recited the Shehecheyanu prayer, as Netanyahu presented the Pollards with their Israeli IDs.
"Welcome home. It's so good to finally see you here," Netanyahu said. "Now you can start over and live your lives free and happy. Now you're home."
A visibly emotional Pollard said, "We're excited to finally be home after 35 years. We thank the Israeli people and the Israeli prime minister for bringing us home. No one is as proud of this country and its leader as we are.
"We hope to become productive citizens as soon as possible and move on with our lives. This is a great country with a bright future. [Israel] is the future of the Jewish people and we're not going anywhere."
On Twitter, President Reuven Rivlin wrote, "Welcome Jonathan and Esther Pollard!" with an Israeli flag.
Interior Minister Aryeh Deri also took to social media, writing, "Welcome to Israel, our brother Jonathan Pollard. I am proud and happy that as interior minister I issued you your Israeli identification card and passport. Now you can start your life here in Israel as a free man along with your wife Esther. You deserve it Jonathan for everything you did and sacrificed for the people of Israel."
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On Twitter, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi wrote, "Esther and Jonathan Pollard, welcome home. We've been waiting for you" along with a picture of the Israeli flag.
Also on Twitter, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein wrote, "Dear Jonathan and Esther Pollard, welcome to the State of Israel. We've been waiting for you!"
Pollard's lawyer Nitsana Darshan-Leitner said, "I am very emotional over the arrival of Pollard and his wife in Israel. There was a great effort to keep the plan for their arrival out of the American media and not make any announcements until they arrive in Israel. I spoke with them before their trip and they are very excited to come to Israel after 35 years and start new lives. As required, the couple will enter quarantine immediately. This is Pollard's first sunrise in Jerusalem. We're praying that the pain and the suffering of the many years, Pollard spent in prison will be forever behind him.
Immigration and Absorption Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata tweeted, "Welcome to Israel!"
Likud MK Keti Shitrit tweeted, "Jonathan and Esther are returning to Israel after 35 years. How good it is that they have come home and can build and re-establish their home in the Holy Land. Well done, Prime Minister Netanyahu for all the efforts to bring Pollard back. No doubt, this is wonderful news to start the new year!"
New Hope party leader Gideon Sa'ar tweeted, "Welcome home, Jonathan!"
