Will Israel be merciful to America's ambassador?

Well well. According to Ha'aretz, America's ambassador to Israel has now apologised for his "misinformed and misleading" comments about Jonathan Pollard, who is serving a lengthy prison term for spying on America for Israel. The ambassador, Richard Jones, had said that America had been merciful in not executing him for his treason when he was pressed by Israel about releasing the man, for "humanitarian reasons."

Pollard, a civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy, was convicted of selling military secrets to Israel while working at the Pentagon. He was arrested in 1985 and pleaded guilty at his trial. He is serving a life sentence in a U.S. federal prison.

The ambassador reiterated his view on Pollard and said, "I certainly do not personally believe that Mr. Pollard should have received capital punishment- I was appalled to learn that I had given that impression."

The ambassador also expressed remorse for the distress the Pollard family and friends have underwent since his arrest, according to the radio.

This is absolultely bizzarre. I can't imagine any country's ambassador apologising to a traitor or his family or the beneficiaries of their treason for saying anything, anything at all.

Perhaps when this ambassador gets recalled he can pop round to the Walker Lindh's and see how they and their boy are getting on. Or maybe he could go pay his respects to the Rosenbergs.