White House Unaware US Ambassador Huckabee Met Convicted Israeli Spy Jonathan Pollard in Jerusalem

White House Unaware of US Ambassador's Meeting with Convicted Spy Jonathan Pollard

A diplomatic stir has emerged following revelations that the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, held a private meeting earlier this year with Jonathan Pollard, a former US Navy intelligence analyst convicted of spying for Israel. The White House, speaking through spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on Thursday, asserted its prior ignorance of the encounter. Despite the lack of advance knowledge within the Trump administration, Leavitt affirmed the President's unwavering support for Ambassador Huckabee and his contributions to US-Israel relations.

The Unscheduled Encounter in Jerusalem

The discreet July meeting, which took place at the US embassy in Jerusalem, was brought to light by The New York Times. Sources cited in the report indicate that the discussion was not on Huckabee's official itinerary and occurred without the awareness of US intelligence agencies. This reportedly caused considerable alarm among CIA officials, as it constitutes a departure from the long-standing protocol that US officials avoid engaging with individuals convicted of espionage against the United States.

Jonathan Pollard's Controversial Past

Jonathan Pollard's history casts a long shadow over US-Israel relations. Convicted in 1987 for illegally transmitting thousands of highly classified US documents to Israel in exchange for financial incentives, he received a life sentence – one of the most severe penalties ever imposed for spying on an ally. After serving three decades, Pollard was paroled in 2015 and subsequently relocated to Israel in 2020, where he is sometimes viewed as a national hero. His case remains one of the most significant breaches of classified information in American history.

Pollard's Perspective and Accusations

In an interview with Israel's i24 News on Thursday, Pollard confirmed initiating the meeting with Ambassador Huckabee. He explained his primary motivation was to personally convey his profound gratitude for Huckabee's past advocacy on his behalf during his incarceration. Pollard went on to speculate that the leak of information regarding their meeting originated from "anti-Israel elements within the Trump administration," specifically attributing it to a CIA individual stationed at the US embassy, allegedly aiming to discredit the ambassador and force his removal.

Huckabee's History of Support and Pollard's Broader Criticisms

Ambassador Huckabee, a vocal proponent of Israel and a political ally of former President Donald Trump, had previously championed Pollard's release during his 2011 Republican presidential nomination campaign. The article does not clarify whether Huckabee sought official approval from the Trump administration before the controversial meeting.

Pollard, however, did not shy away from broader criticisms of the Trump administration in his interview. He expressed strong disdain for special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who have played prominent roles in efforts to mediate peace in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Pollard lambasted them, stating, "I despise Witkoff and Kushner, they were willing to meet with terrorists who massacred us on October 7 [2023]." This controversial statement adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing diplomatic landscape.