Of Buttons and Prisoners

Jake was a ne'er-do-well who used to hang out with the gamblers and race track characters. Rube had a poultry business, and a rather ugly daughter. On bumping into Jake one day, Rube proposed that Jake marry his daughter, and Rube would buy him a truck and hire him to deliver the poultry. And so the deal was done.

However, the daughter kept coming to Rube to complain that thus far Jake had not so much as touched her. Finally, after some weeks, Rube went to see Jake to try and find out what was going on.

Now, in those days, zippers on trouser flies had not yet replaced buttons. As Rube upbraided Jake for not fulfilling his marital responsibilities, the answer he got was: "Not one button moves until I get my truck"

So, too, the United States is a country that likes to propose a marriage between Israel and the Palestinians. In 1998, Bill Clinton promised to release Jonathan Pollard if Israel signed the Wye Agreement. Bibi Netanyahu, accompanied by Arik Sharon, signed; but no Jonathan Pollard. Under Ehud Barak, Israel was urged to release terrorist prisoners. Many were released, still no Jonathan Pollard. To free one bent former colonel who became a less than honest businessman, and retrieve some dead bodies, Arik Sharon gave away the store; still no Jonathan Pollard.

And now, to satisfy a preening holocaust denier, Sharon is urged to free a fresh batch of killers and terrorists. Once again he is going to give away the store, when he should be saying: "not one button moves until I get my truck". Not one prisoner should be released until Jonathan Pollard is freed.

If you agree, e-mail Prime Minister Sharon at pm@pmo.gov.il, I'm sure he'll be glad to hear from you. While you are at it, why not send a copy to Justice For Jonathan Pollard: pollard@jonathanpollard.org.