Archive · 21 Nov 2025
White House Unaware of Huckabee's Meeting with Convicted Spy Pollard
The U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, secretly met with Jonathan Pollard, a man who was in prison for giving U.S. secrets to Israel.
The White House didn't know about this meeting, and some people are worried it might change how the U.S. deals with spying by its friends.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee met with Jonathan Pollard, a former U.S. Navy analyst convicted for spying for Israel
The meeting was not disclosed on Huckabee's official schedule and surprised U.S. officials
Huckabee advocated for Pollard's release during his 2011 presidential campaign
The meeting raised concerns about a softer U.S. stance on espionage by allies
Huckabee has cultivated ties with Israel's right wing, with which Pollard is aligned
- Who
- U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Jonathan Pollard
- What
- met secretly
- When
- in July
- Where
- at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem
- Why
- Pollard wanted to thank Huckabee for helping him while he was in prison
U.S. Intelligence Community
Some in Israel
Pollard's Actions
U.S. Intelligence Community
Viewed as one of the most damaging breaches of classified information
Some in Israel
Regarded as a hero
- Pollard's Crime
- Passing classified U.S. material to Israel
- Pollard's Sentence
- Life imprisonment, served 30 years
- Huckabee's Role
- U.S. Ambassador to Israel, advocated for Pollard's release in 2011
- Meeting Impact
- Raised concerns about U.S. stance on espionage by allies