Jonathan Pollard.

President Shimon Peres said on Monday that he would raise the issue of the release of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard when he meets U.S. President Barack Obama next week. Peres made the statement during a meeting in Jerusalem with members of families of fallen soldiers and victims of terrorist attacks who wanted to encourage the president to seek Pollard’s release.

During his meeting, Peres said “I am moved by the fact that despite all of your terrible personal pain, you are concerned with someone so far away whom you don’t even know. I will speak to President Obama as a person to person, and not just as one who holds a position. I view this as a top priority humanitarian mission.”

Peres is to be awarded the U.S.’s highest civilian honor by Obama: the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He learned of the honor at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy conference in March, where he was also given a laudatory biographical video.