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While Jonathan J. Pollard, one of the most notorious spies of the late Cold War, tried to stay out of sight after emerging from custody almost as if from a time machine, the United States and Israel hoped his release would finally heal a long-festering open wound in their partnership.
For 30 years, Mr. Pollard was at the center of a profound struggle between Washington and Jerusalem, one that shadowed American presidents and Israeli prime ministers since Ronald Reagan was in the White House.
The only American ever sentenced to life in prison for spying for an ally, Mr. Pollard was freed on parole to an uncertain future.
Continue reading the main story Video Grayer and thicker around the middle, Mr. Pollard, 61, would hardly be recognizable to most Americans anymore.
Photo “The notion that, having fought for and finally obtained his release after serving 30 years in prison, Mr. Pollard will now disclose stale 30-year-old information to anyone is preposterous,” his lawyers, Eliot Lauer and Jacques Semmelman, said in a statement.
For years, the Israelis disavowed Mr. Pollard, but eventually granted him citizenship, acknowledged his work for them and renounced spying on the United States.
Mr. Pollard’s critics denied that, and many Jewish Americans were among those who denounced him, worrying about questions of dual loyalty.
In the end, Mr. Obama made no move to release Mr. Pollard early, but did not object when the United States Parole Commission decided to let him out after 30 years.
“We will not rest,” he wrote in a letter to Mr. Pollard, “Until you are free to depart the United States for any destination of your choosing, first and foremost Israel.”