Netanyahu welcomed the Pollards: “Welcome back, how good it is that you came home”

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After the landing of Yonatan and Esther Pollard in Eretz Halila (Wednesday), which was first published on the “Israel Hayom” website, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the couple and presented Yonatan with an Israeli identity card. Netanyahu met them excitedly on the plane,

“Welcome back, how good it is that you came home. Now you can start life anew, with freedom and happiness. Now you are at home,” Netanyahu said.

The reception, tonight

Jonathan Pollard said: “We are excited to be home finally after 35 years. We thank the people of Israel and the Prime Minister of Israel for bringing us home. There is no one who is more proud of this country or its leader than we are. We hope to become productive citizens as soon as possible and continue our lives here. “A great country. It has a bright future. It is the future of the Jewish people, and we are not going anywhere.”

President Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin congratulated the couple in a tweet he posted.

Interior Minister Aryeh Deri wrote: “Welcome to Israel, our brother Yonatan Pollard. I am proud and happy that the Minister of the Interior issued you an Israeli identity card and passport. Now you can start living with your wife Esther in Israel as a free, free person. For the people of Israel. “

Minister of Immigration and Absorption Pnina Tamano-Sheta, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, MK Katie Sheetrit and former Minister Gideon Saar also issued excited announcements.

Prime Minister Netanyahu talks with Pollard and his wife, with removal of restrictions // Archive photo: Itai Beit On, Sound: Ben Peretz / GPO

His lawyer, Adv. Nitzana Darshan-Leitner, stated: “I am very excited about the arrival of Pollard and his wife in Israel. There was a great effort to keep the plan of their arrival from the American media and not to announce anything until they arrived in the country. I talked to them before they left and they are very excited after 35 years to come to Israel and start a new life. As required, the couple will immediately go into isolation. This is Pollard’s first sunrise in Jerusalem. We all pray that the pain and suffering of Pollard’s long years in prison will be behind him forever. “

Netanyahu with Jonathan and Esther Pollard, tonight

The headquarters of the struggle for Pollard’s release stated: “‘This day the Lord made a revelation and rejoiced in him.’ And sons returned to their borders! “So even the closest circle has been updated that the move is approaching, without knowing what the exact date is.”

We also updated that the date of arrival was set in a way that would allow the continuation of Esther’s medical treatments to continue. The Pollard couple thanked everyone who continues to pray for her recovery.

Jonathan Pollard in the cockpit on his way to Israel // Special photo for

Prior to the landing, Pollard, who was excited by the pilots, was invited to the cockpit, where he listened to the Ben Gurion Airport control tower, which greeted him and greeted him in Hebrew on the occasion of his arrival in Israel.

The Pollard couple board a flight to Israel // Special photo for

Due to his wife’s medical condition, the Pollards chose to take a direct private flight from Liberty Airport in Newark, New Jersey, to Ben Gurion Airport.

Pollard, who was convicted of spying for Israel while working as a U.S. Navy intelligence investigator in the 1980s, received Israeli citizenship during his time in a North Carolina prison, where he remained until the parole board agreed to release him under restrictions in 2015. About a month ago, restrictions on his movement were lifted.

Participated in the preparation of the article: Yuri Yalon, Daniel Roth-Avnery

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