Posted on 11/20/25
| News Source: Arutz-7
i24NEWS aired an interview on Thursday with Jonathan Pollard, in which he described his recent meeting with US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee - a meeting he emphasized was strictly personal in nature.
Pollard said he had initiated the conversation with the ambassador to express his "sincere appreciation" for Huckabee's efforts on his behalf while he was in prison, as well as for the support shown to his late wife, Esther. According to Pollard, the discussion at the embassy "could be considered pleasantries," yet someone in the embassy reportedly informed officials in Washington without knowing the meeting’s purpose.
Pollard told i24NEWS that he believes the subsequent New York Times report was part of an effort to discredit Huckabee. He attributed this push to what he called anti-Israel elements within the Trump administration and individuals he described as "neo-isolationists." He also mentioned actors he believes may be aligned with Saudi or Qatari interests.
Addressing claims that the meeting did not appear on Huckabee’s official schedule, Pollard insisted the meeting was personal and not the type that required pre-approval. "I'm not just anybody," he noted, adding that he had simply decided it was time to thank the ambassador.
Pollard rejected assumptions that he harbors anger toward the United States as a whole, clarifying that his grievances are directed at specific individuals who, in his view, attempted to use his case to undermine ties between Jerusalem and Washington. He expressed surprise that the meeting was later used "as a weapon" to embarrass Huckabee.
Asked whether the meeting could create difficulties for the ambassador, Pollard criticized figures such as Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, saying he "despises" them for engaging with actors he labeled as terrorists. Pollard argued that these contacts were motivated not by diplomacy but by personal interests.
He suggested that efforts to discredit Huckabee may have originated within the American intelligence community, and specifically the CIA station at the embassy, though he stressed this was only his opinion.
Regarding ongoing tensions within the Trump administration’s approach to Israel, Pollard accused Kushner and Witkoff of acting on behalf of foreign interests, particularly Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. He maintained that their actions hindered Israel’s war aims in Gaza, saying they "did everything in their power to prevent us from winning."
Pollard also reiterated criticism of President Trump’s 21-point peace plan, arguing that it undermines Israel’s independence and endangers national security. He stated that had Israel immediately delivered a decisive blow to Hamas after the release of the hostages, the negotiations leading up to that point might have been justified.