T A B L E+T A L K What would be the Republican dream ticket for the 2000 election? What about the Democrats? Play pundit in Table Talk's Politics discussion area   R E C E N T L Y One big happy family By Alan Wolfe The election was a referendum on morality, after all, but Americans voted for tolerance, not vengeance (11/25/98) The "young lady" who got under Kenneth Starr's skin By Joan Walsh U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren is pressing the independent counsel to think harder about when he learned of Linda Tripp's tapes (11/25/98) Letter from San Francisco By Lisa Margonelli Twenty years after Dan White murdered George Moscone and Harvey Milk, his old neighborhood is still spawning leaders who divide by race -- but these days they're Asian, not white (11/24/98) Why "Birthright Israel" can't work By Samuel G. Freedman Diaspora in America is better than physical danger and religious infighting in Zion (11/23/98) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Starr By Gary Kamiya When the real Kenneth Starr finally stood up before the House, he turned out to have a split personality (11/20/98) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Browse the Newsreal Archives - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - S A L O N E M P O R I U M FREE! 12-ounce bag of Salon Blend with a purchase of $30 or more. While supplies last.
		A conversation with Jonathan Pollard Betrayed by Gingrich and Netanyahu, the convicted spy for Israel blasts the politics behind his latest failed hope for clemency. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - BY WALTER RUBY | Among the legions of people toasting the fall of House Speaker Newt Gingrich these days, few are as satisfied as Jonathan Pollard, the convicted American Jewish spy for Israel who has spent the past 13 years in high-security federal penitentiaries. The thickly bearded, heavy-set, 43-year-old Pollard is hardly at odds with Gingrich ideologically. Both men share an enthusiasm for high-frontier strategic thinking and a visceral fondness for the tough-minded "peace through strength" policies of the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. These days, however, both Netanyahu and Gingrich have earned special places on Pollard's personal enemies list. Pollard is known for his acerbic and frequently profane commentary on the whole series of U.S. and Israeli leaders whom he holds responsible for leaving him to rot in prison since he was sentenced to life behind bars for spying for Israel back in 1986. He is deeply unhappy with Netanyahu for what he believes was a less than sincere and sustained effort to win his freedom during last month's Wye Plantation summit conference with Palestinian President Yasir Arafat and President Clinton. And Pollard is positively livid at Gingrich, whom he holds personally responsible for sabotaging a purported deal between the parties to let him leave for Israel in exchange for the Jewish state's agreement not to demand the extradition of 36 Palestinians wanted on terrorism charges, including Ghazi Jabili, the commander of the Palestinian Authority police force. Apparently prompted by the CIA, which sprang into full stop-Pollard mode the moment the deal to release Pollard was prematurely leaked to CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Gingrich and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott immediately dispatched a stern open letter to Clinton demanding that he not free Pollard. Gingrich and Lott have been staunch political allies of Netanyahu in his efforts to fend off Clinton administration pressure for concessions to the Palestinians. The GOP leaders referred to the jailed spy as "one of the most notorious traitors in U.S. history" and expressed fear in their letter that once Pollard was allowed to go to Israel he might "resume his treacherous conduct and further damage the national security of the United States." Clinton, incensed at the Israelis for leaking the story and fearful that the Republicans would make political hay by accusing him of yet another high crime and misdemeanor -- this time, betraying American security interests -- dug in his heels with Netanyahu and refused to follow through on releasing Pollard, finally agreeing only to conduct another in a series of reviews of the Pollard case. Clinton has already rejected clemency for Pollard twice during his presidency and few informed observers expect the latest review to yield a different result. In a telephone interview from Butner Federal Penitentiary in North Carolina the day after Gingirch announced his resignation as speaker of the House, Pollard exclaimed, "This is wonderful irony. Newt tried to prevent me from ever seeing the light of day, but I'm still alive and struggling for my freedom and Newt is finished politically. Gingrich was a supposed friend of Israel, but he stabbed Israel and me in the back at Wye, because he wanted something to use against Clinton for cheap political advantage before the elections. Now he is gone, and the main GOP barrier to my release is no longer there. Whoever comprises the new GOP leadership will have to look at this in a fresh light." N E X T+P A G E+| Pollard the spin doctor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PHOTOGRAPH: AP/WIDE WORLD