Boycott Fourth of July Celebrations Until Pollard is Free

Manhigut Yehudit salutes Labor MK Orit Noked on her appeal to thousands of Israeli VIPs and politicians to boycott the US embassy's annual Fourth of July celebration as long as Jonathan Pollard remains in prison. The claim that America really does not care whether Israelis attend their Fourth of July celebration or not is unfounded. Obama's public standing has taken a beating and his negative approach to Israel is partly responsible for that. An Israeli boycott of the celebrations at the US embassy because of Pollard will wield considerable leverage for Pollard's release. On this issue, it is important to leave party loyalty behind and to join MK Noked in a public call to boycott the celebrations so that anybody who does attend will prefer to enter the embassy from the back door.