He is the American citizen who was caught selling secrets to Israel, the spy jailed for life for betraying his nation's security. Is Jonathan Jay Pollard a greedy traitor who made a lot of money while jeopardising America's safety in the Cold War and then tried to sell his services on to other countries? His supporters do not think so. They say he is a Jewish patriot who helped Israel only because of his strong faith in the Zionist cause. They add that the years he has served in prison since his arrest in 1986 are long enough considering he was helping a close American ally. His sentence was disproportionate. He is a victim of anti-Semitism.
Either way, Pollard's fate may be linked to bringing peace to the Middle East, and once again he has become a bargaining chip in the torturous negotiations to end the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. On Monday, Israel's Army Radio reported that the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, may seek his release in exchange for extending the freeze of settlements in the West Bank. It would be an opportunistic move considering the buildings are illegal under international law anyway.
Tomorrow, the 10-month moratorium on construction expires, and the Palestinians are threatening to pull out of the current peace talks unless the freeze continues. Allowing Pollard to go home may help Mr Netanyahu sell the idea of a settlement freeze to his coalition of right wing and religious parties. But Pollard's biggest obstacle is not the Palestinians or sceptics in Israel. It is the American intelligence community that has long balked at the idea of any kind of leniency.
The idea may just be a kite flown more in hope than any real expectation that the Americans would agree to such a deal. The US administration has made no comment. On his 56th birthday in August, he allowed a private letter written by his second wife Esther to be published in an Israeli online publication. Esther expressed her devotion, couching their difficulties in spiritual language and his punishment as part of a greater Jewish struggle.
"People who have no concept of eternal life have no way to grasp that you volunteered for this mission long ago in the world of souls, and I volunteered to go with you. The sorrow, the frustration, the suffering, the anguish, the depression, the despair and the anger are actually fleeting in terms of eternity. But in terms of a human lifetime they have been overwhelming, relentless and unending."
Being Pollard's wife must be quite an undertaking, since the couple have never lived together or indeed seen each other outside prison walls. Esther is a former schoolteacher from Toronto who wrote letters to him in jail, which is where they got married in the 1990s. His marriage is one of the many oddities in what started off as a fairly uneventful life in suburban Indiana. Pollard was one of three children and their father, Morris, was a microbiologist. Jay was bullied as a child. His first exposure to Israel came at age 16 when he spent a happy summer there at a camp.
He graduated from Stanford University, but he was rejected when he applied for job with the CIA in 1976. He then found employment as a research analyst for the Navy's Field Operational Intelligence Office in Maryland. In his 2006 book Capturing Jonathan Pollard, Ronald Olive, who was in charge of the counterintelligence office which investigated Pollard, described him as "immature" and a "social outcast" who took drugs and had a talent for bizarre stories.
Pollard once turned up late for a meeting looking dishevelled. He told colleagues his girlfriend had been kidnapped by the IRA and he spent the weekend chasing them all over Washington. In June 1984, he was moved to the Navy's antiterrorist alert centre in Maryland and worked in its threat analysis division. By then he had been recruited by Israel as a spy. In November that year, he met two handlers in Paris and was given $10,000 (Dh37,000) and promised a salary of $1,500 a month. When he returned to the US, he began copying and delivering top secret documents to a safe house. In court it was revealed he received $50,000 with the promise of more and Pollard defended the payments as a "reflection of how well I was doing my job".
In 1985, the red flag was raised by a colleague who spotted him in the office car park with an envelope known to have classified material that Pollard was supposed to destroy. His capture was more like a comedy of errors, wrote Mr Olive. A naval commander lost his temper with Pollard and accused him of being a spy. Pollard called his new bride, Anne, and ordered her to remove all classified material from the house. She looked outside the window, saw a car that looked like it was staking her out and in a fit of panic ran to the neighbours and told them to hang on to the suitcase because it contained secret documents. The neighbours called the police.
Farcically, it turned out the car parked outside was on a stakeout, but it was focused on someone else, Mr Olive wrote. The couple fled to the Israeli embassy in Washington, but officials turned them away. The minute they stepped outside the compound, both were arrested. Pollard pleaded guilty to one count of espionage. The Israelis distanced themselves from him and claimed he worked for a rogue operation.
But Pollard disputed that claim and told the court that he passed on 360 cubic feet of classified documents over 17 months. He insisted loyalty to Israel was his sole motive because he wanted to provide information about its enemies in the Middle East which could save Israeli lives. On March 15, 1987, as the judge pronounced the life sentence, Anne collapsed and started screaming. She received five years for being his accomplice. The defence secretary at the time, Casper Weinberger, said he could think of "no greater harm to national security".
Over the years, details about what he gave Israel leaked to various American news organisations. The Jerusalem Post, citing Pollard as a source, reported that he provided information that allowed the Israeli air force to bomb the headquarters of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in Tunisia in October 1985, which killed 35 people. He also gave satellite photos of Iraqi and Syrian chemical weapons plants and reports on Soviet arms shipments to Syria and other Arab states.
But there was more. Seymour Hersh, the eminent American journalist, revealed that Pollard told the Israelis how the Americans collected intelligence through satellites and, more damningly, techniques of how the US Navy tracked Soviet submarines. Some of this material found its way to the Soviet Union in exchange for allowing Russian Jews to emigrate to the Jewish state, Mr Hersh wrote. In 1995, the prisoner was granted Israeli citizenship, the same year the late prime minister Yitzak Rabin began negotiating for his release and tying it to the peace process. His cause has been taken up by all subsequent Israeli leaders.
Finally, in May 1998, the Israelis admitted Pollard was a spy. The closest he has come to freedom was during the Wye River negotiations brokered by the US president Bill Clinton in 1998. The Israelis claimed Mr Clinton had agreed to let him go. Pollard had written a letter to the American president expressing his regrets. "I realize that no matter what my motives may have been, I did not have the right to violate the law. I have also made it very clear that I do not consider myself to be a 'hero' and would prefer that people simply see me as someone who made a terrible mistake and who has paid dearly for my mistake."
But the CIA director George Tenet threatened to resign if he was freed, The New York Times reported. Pollard remained behind bars. He has refused to apply for parole and insists on clemency or a pardon. His second wife, Esther, once said he tried and failed to love both America and Israel at the same time. "I hope that he will serve as a cautionary tale for others who are under the mistaken impression that you can in a sense love two women at once. You cannot."
hghafour@thenational.ae
RESULTS
5pm: Watha Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Dalil De Carrere, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Mohamed Daggash (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Pharitz Al Denari, Bernardo Pinheiro, Mahmood Hussain
6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Oss, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: ES Nahawand, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: AF Almajhaz, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: AF Lewaa, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qaiss Aboud.
Section 375
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat
Director: Ajay Bahl
Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL
Rating: 3.5/5
2024%20Dubai%20Marathon%20Results
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Match info
Deccan Gladiators 87-8
Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16
Maratha Arabians 89-2
Chadwick Walton 51 not out
Arabians won the final by eight wickets
FIXTURES (all times UAE)
Sunday
Brescia v Lazio (3.30pm)
SPAL v Verona (6pm)
Genoa v Sassuolo (9pm)
AS Roma v Torino (11.45pm)
Monday
Bologna v Fiorentina (3.30pm)
AC Milan v Sampdoria (6pm)
Juventus v Cagliari (6pm)
Atalanta v Parma (6pm)
Lecce v Udinese (9pm)
Napoli v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Sweet%20Tooth
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
Inside%20Out%202
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SPEC SHEET
Display: 10.4-inch IPS LCD, 400 nits, toughened glass
CPU: Unisoc T610; Mali G52 GPU
Memory: 4GB
Storage: 64GB, up to 512GB microSD
Camera: 8MP rear, 5MP front
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio
Battery: 8200mAh, up to 10 hours video
Platform: Android 11
Audio: Stereo speakers, 2 mics
Durability: IP52
Biometrics: Face unlock
Price: Dh849
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
Profile Box
Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif
Based: Manama, Bahrain
Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation
Size: (employees/revenue) 4/ 5,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($100,000)
Investors: Two first-round investors including, 500 Startups, Fawaz Al Gosaibi Holding (Saudi Arabia)
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
