By The former US intelligence analyst turned spy is entering politics on a platform of expansion and regional warfare
Jonathan Pollard, the Israeli spy who betrayed the United States, has called on Israel to prepare for war against Egypt and Turkey as he launches his campaign for a Knesset seat in October’s election.
The American-born former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst spent 30 years in prison after passing a vast collection of classified documents to Israel.
In an interview with Israeli news channel ILTV on Sunday, Pollard called on Israel to wipe Iran “off the map” and identified Egypt and Turkey as its next major enemies.
“I hate to put it that way, but Turkey and Egypt are coming up next as our major strategic threat,” said Pollard.
“And unless we have all these other fronts eliminated by that time, we’re going to be in a terrible situation,” he added.
Egypt and Turkey both maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, while Egypt signed a peace treaty with it in 1979. Pollard’s comments nevertheless present the two countries as future enemies in an expanding Israeli war across the region – which has seen Israel attack Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Qatar, Yemen and Iran in the last three years.
Pollard also demanded that Israel alone determine Gaza’s future and backed the seizure of additional Lebanese territory.
“As far as Lebanon is concerned … I have been in favor of officially pushing our border north to the Litani River,” said Pollard.
He also urged Israel to attack Iran without waiting for Washington.
“We have the resources, we just don’t have the willingness to go ahead and take Iran off the map,” added Pollard.
Israel has relied heavily on American weapons and diplomatic protection during its genocide in Gaza and attacks on the region. Washington has supplied Israel with at least $23bn in military aid since October 2023.
Jonathan Pollard speaking during a funeral in Jerusalem in 2021.
Convicted for Spying
Pollard was arrested in 1985 and later pleaded guilty to passing a vast collection of classified U.S. documents to Israel while working as a civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy.
He was sentenced to life in prison and spent 30 years behind bars before being released in 2015. He later moved to Israel.
His espionage case remains one of the most controversial episodes in U.S.-Israel relations. Four former directors of U.S. naval intelligence described Pollard as a “greedy, arrogant betrayer of the American national trust”.
Former naval intelligence lawyer ME Bowman said: “He did more damage than anybody who ever spied for an ally.”
Pollard remains unrepentant about betraying the United States. “I don’t regret helping my people and my land,” he said.
Pollard has also argued that Jews “will always have dual loyalty” in the countries where they live.
On Sunday, Pollard announced that he would run for the Knesset with Israel First, a new right-wing party led by former deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel.
Benjamin Netanyahu previously offered Pollard a place on an electoral list and personally welcomed him upon his arrival in Israel in 2020. Pollard has since criticized Netanyahu but said he would support him if he retained power after the election.
Jonathan Pollard is driven away in the backseat of a government vehicle after appearing in federal court in 1985.
