Ex-US spy for Israel calls for Gaza ethnic cleansing as he seeks Knesset seat

Key Points:

• Jonathan Pollard, a former US navy intelligence analyst imprisoned for spying for Israel, announced his intention to run for the Knesset on a platform advocating the forcible removal of Gaza residents and annexation of the territory.
• Pollard's political ambitions were motivated by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which killed nearly 1,200 people and led to the Gaza war; he criticized the Israeli government for failing to prevent or respond swiftly to the attack.
• Pollard served 30 years in US prison for passing classified military documents to Israel for money and was granted Israeli citizenship while incarcerated; he moved to Israel in 2020 after his parole ended.
• Despite past support from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Pollard has become a vocal critic of his leadership, calling for new leadership and clearer policies in the ongoing conflict.
• Pollard plans to run with a new political party co-founded with Nissim Louk, whose daughter was killed in the October 7 attack, but stated he would support Netanyahu if he remains in power after the upcoming elections.