ALBAWABA - The White House took action on Thursday to address the mounting controversy surrounding an unreported meeting between U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Jonathan Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst who was imprisoned for thirty years for spying for Israel.
The New York Times reported that Huckabee and Pollard met in July at the American Embassy in Jerusalem. Senior American officials were reportedly taken aback by the encounter, which did not appear on the ambassador's official schedule.
Reporters were informed by White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt that the administration was unaware of the meeting beforehand. President Donald Trump, she continued, "fully supports Ambassador Mike Huckabee and all the work he is doing for the United States and Israel."
In an interview with an Israeli news source, Pollard claimed to have started the conversation with Huckabee. In an interview with i24NEWS, he clarified that his request was private and expressed appreciation for Huckabee's work on his behalf while he was incarcerated.
During Pollard's 2011 Republican presidential campaign, Huckabee was one of his most outspoken supporters, openly calling for Pollard's release. After leaking extremely sensitive American intelligence to Israel, Pollard was found guilty in 1987 and given the harshest punishment ever meted out for spying on behalf of a U.S. ally: life in prison. After serving 30 years and being granted parole in 2015, he relocated to Israel in 2020.
Although some in Israel regard Pollard as a national hero, his case has long strained ties between the United States and Israel, and many in the American intelligence community still consider it to be one of the most damaging breaches of classified information in the nation's history.
According to the Times report, the CIA was concerned about the Jerusalem meeting because American officials usually stay away from people who have been found guilty of espionage. It's unclear if Huckabee asked Washington for permission in advance, raising concerns about whether the meeting represents a subtle change in the United States' stance on allied espionage.
As Washington and Tel Aviv strengthen their diplomatic and security cooperation, Huckabee, a fervent supporter of Israel and a close political ally of President Trump, has developed close relationships with Israeli leadership. Additionally, according to the newspaper, Huckabee is attempting to deepen ties with Israel's right-wing political circles, where Pollard is a powerful symbol.
