Jonathan Pollard Calls for War Against Iran, Egypt and Turkey

Former US intelligence analyst and convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard has called for an aggressive Israeli regional strategy as he launches a campaign for a Knesset seat in October’s election.

In an interview with Israeli news channel ILTV, Pollard urged Israel to attack Iran without waiting for US approval, saying Israel should seek to wipe Iran “off the map”. He also described Turkey and Egypt as future major strategic threats.

Both countries currently maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, while Egypt has had a peace treaty with Israel since 1979. Pollard’s remarks nevertheless framed them as potential enemies in a wider regional conflict.

Pollard also called for Israel to determine Gaza’s future and supported expanding Israel’s border into southern Lebanon toward the Litani River.

His comments come after years of Israeli military operations across Gaza and other parts of the region, including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Qatar, Yemen and Iran.

Pollard was arrested in 1985 after passing classified US intelligence documents to Israel while working as a civilian US Navy intelligence analyst. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and spent 30 years in prison before his release in 2015. He later moved to Israel.

Pollard remains unrepentant about the espionage case and has now entered Israeli politics with the right-wing Israel First party, led by former deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel. Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously welcomed Pollard to Israel and has expressed support for him, although Pollard has also criticised Netanyahu.