Diplomatic scandal as US ambassador meets with convicted Israeli spy in secret
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has held a secret meeting with convicted spy Jonathan Pollard, triggering a diplomatic scandal in Washington, according to a publication in The Times of Israel.
On Thursday, 20 November, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the administration had not been informed about the private meeting between US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Jonathan Pollard, a former US Navy analyst convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for passing classified information to Israel.
According to reporters, the meeting took place back in July and was not included in the ambassador’s official schedule.
This fact raised concern within both the CIA and the White House, which had not been notified about contact with a convicted spy, an unusual and sensitive matter in US diplomatic practice.
US officials are required to avoid any formal or informal interactions with convicted spies. It also remains unclear whether Huckabee sought approval from the administration beforehand, prompting concerns about the possibility of softening the US stance on espionage by allied states.
Leavitt stated that President Donald Trump supports Ambassador Huckabee and his work on behalf of the United States and Israel.
Huckabee is known as a long-time ally of President Trump and a strong supporter of Israel. He has actively developed ties with Israeli leaders, including figures from the right-wing political spectrum, with whom Pollard is also aligned.
Pollard told reporters that he himself initiated the meeting and wished to personally thank Huckabee for his support during his imprisonment. Huckabee had publicly advocated Pollard’s release as early as 2011 during his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
Who is Jonathan Pollard
Jonathan Pollard is a former US Navy intelligence analyst who passed classified materials to Israel in 1985–1986.
In 1987, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, the harshest punishment ever imposed in the United States for spying on behalf of an ally. He served 30 years before being paroled in 2015 and moved to Israel in 2020.
His case strained US–Israeli relations for decades. In the United States, it is still considered one of the most serious breaches of classified information, while in Israel, Pollard is widely regarded as a hero.
US President Donald Trump recently sent a letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog requesting a pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently on trial on corruption charges.
