Entry into Politics
Israeli former spy Jonathan Pollard has announced he will join the Israel First party, led by Knesset member Sharren Haskel. In an appearance on Israeli television, Pollard discussed this significant step into politics and his views on Israel's regional security challenges.
Approach to Lebanon and Hezbollah
Regarding Lebanon, Pollard stated that Israel cannot allow Hezbollah to remain standing. He expressed support for officially pushing Israel's border north to the river and continuing operations until Hezbollah is completely destroyed.
Iran as a Strategic Threat
On the question of Iran, Pollard described it as a major threat to Israel. He emphasized that Israel should not wait on the United States, expressing uncertainty about what President Trump intends to do in this regard. Pollard articulated what he called a "third option" for Israel: to act independently under an "Israel first" strategy. He argued that while Israel has the resources necessary, it lacks the willingness to take Iran off the map, as he phrased it. According to Pollard, Israel must destroy the IRGC, not Iran proper, along with Hezbollah and Hamas in order to prepare for the next phase of conflict.
Future Regional Threats
Pollard identified Turkey and Egypt as Israel's major strategic threats going forward—Turkey in the north and Egypt in the south. He emphasized that unless Israel eliminates these other fronts before facing threats from Turkey and Egypt, the country will face a dire situation. Pollard stressed the necessity of addressing current threats proactively to prevent future vulnerability on multiple fronts simultaneously.
Personal Reflections
When asked what might surprise people who only know the public version of Jonathan Pollard, he responded simply that he has a sense of humor.