Jonathan Pollard. Photo: U.S. Navy via Wikimedia Commons

JNS.org – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with U.S. President Barack Obama about the issue of convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard’s release when the two leaders met March 3 at the White House, Netanyahu said in an interview with Israel Hayom that will be published on Sunday.

“Pollard shouldn’t be in jail or in the hospital,” Netanyahu said. “The time has come to release him. I spoke about this with Obama.”

The Free Pollard Campaign reported Thursday that Pollard, in his 29th year in U.S. prison, was hospitalized Wednesday after his medical condition deteriorated. He has been suffering from various pains and underwent surgery for an unspecified medical problem during his hospitalization. Over the last year, Pollard’s medical issues have caused him to lose consciousness several times.

Pollard’s wife Esther said, “I received word of his hospitalization, but they did not give me anymore details. The lack of information is very difficult. It really drives you crazy to go through this after 29 years.”