Secret Pollard Meeting Sparks Calls to Recall US Ambassador Huckabee
Israeli media reported on Sunday that US right-wing
figures are demanding the recall of Washington’s ambassador to Israel, Mike
Huckabee, following revelations of an undisclosed meeting with former American
spy Jonathan Pollard.
According to The New York Times, Huckabee met Pollard
inside the US Embassy in occupied al-Quds in July 2025.
The meeting was not listed on the ambassador’s
schedule and reportedly took place without the knowledge of senior US
officials, including the CIA director and White House advisers.
Criticism from Trump-aligned Conservatives
The disclosure has provoked sharp criticism among
conservative circles in Washington, particularly those close to President
Donald Trump.
Former White House strategist Steve Bannon called
Huckabee “out of control” and urged the administration to summon him back to
Washington immediately.
Pollard confirmed the meeting in statements to Israeli
channel i24NEWS, saying he had personally initiated the request and adding: “I
wanted to express my sincere appreciation for all the efforts he expended on my
behalf when I was in prison.”
Huckabee publicly supported Pollard’s release during
his 2011 presidential campaign.
A Sensitive Espionage Legacy
Pollard, a former US Navy intelligence analyst, was
sentenced to life in 1987 for passing classified intelligence to Israel, the
harshest penalty ever imposed in a case involving espionage for a US
ally.
He served 30 years in prison and relocated to “Israel”
in 2020. The case continues to be regarded by many in the US intelligence
community as one of the most damaging breaches of classified material in recent
history.
The Times report noted that the meeting “alarmed” the
CIA and broke with the longstanding practice of avoiding contact between US
government officials and convicted spies. It remained unclear whether Huckabee
sought or received approval from the administration, raising concerns that the
incident may signal a shift toward a more permissive stance on intelligence
breaches involving allies.
Huckabee, a vocal supporter of Israel and close
political ally of Trump, has cultivated strong ties with Israeli leadership as
US-Israel military and diplomatic cooperation deepens. Pollard
described the encounter as “friendly.”
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario