Acknowledged Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard may be released as part of a deal to get Israel to extend peace talks with the Palestinians. Pollard pleaded guiilty in 1987 to espionage charges and was given a life sentence. Through the years, the state of Israel claimed him as an intelligence asset, granted him citizenship, and have constantly lobbied for his release. Fierce resistance to granting him clemency from American intelligence agencies has stood in the way of Mr. Pollard's freedom. The New York Times reports that the Obama administration is considering Pollard's release as part of a deal to encourage Israel to extend an April 29 deadline for talks with the Palestinians. Raising Mr. Pollard’s case now carries extra resonance because this round of talks is in danger of breaking down over whether Israel will release a fourth and final batch of Palestinian prisoners. The president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has said that unless Israel...(Read Full Post)