Former spy Jonathan Pollard, who was released in 2015 and now lives in Israel, gave a wide-ranging interview Tuesday to Ilaïl Shahar on the "Boker Hazeh" program on Kan News on Reshet Bet, celebrating a decade since his release from American prison. In the interview, Pollard sharply attacked the American administration, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the criticism directed at Ambassador Mike Huckabee following their meeting at the US Embassy in Jerusalem, and disclosed for the first time that he was raped in the American prison.
Video: Pollard speaks on Tuesday / Credit: Kan Reshet Bet
In the interview with Kan Reshet Bet, Pollard explained that he realized the full scale of the national failure through his own life: "I assumed my abandonment and the betrayal of me was an exceptional incident on Israel's part. But on October 7, I realized I was no exception. I realized the entire country was abandoned and betrayed. At that point, I concluded that I must do something to the best of my ability to prevent such a tragedy."
He directly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conduct during, particularly regarding the conflict with Iran and the air force's turning back after the attack in Beersheba due to US pressure: "Throughout the war, Netanyahu should have stood firm against Trump when it comes to Israel's security interests."
Regarding the meeting with US Ambassador Mike Huckabee and the backlash he received, Pollard dismissed all claims of a secret meeting, insisting it contained no details indicating improper involvement: "There was nothing secret in the meeting." Later in the interview with Kan Reshet Bet, Pollard leveled harsh criticism at the American intelligence community: "The CIA serves as a tool of the Democratic Party. My advice is that its branch here at the American Embassy should be cleaned out, and people who reflect the president's agenda should be brought in."
Speaking about his time in American prison, Pollard made public the trauma he experienced behind bars : "I was raped in prison as revenge for my actions for Israel. I'm glad that some of the hostages are talking about it now ." He added, "It is necessary to understand the monsters we are dealing with."
Pollard, who is contemplating running in the upcoming elections, linked his political aspirations to what he witnessed as an Israeli citizen after October 7 : "I concluded that I must do something to the best of my ability to prevent such a tragedy."
