Jonathan Pollard joins Israel First Party for Knesset run

Former U.S. intelligence analyst Jonathan Pollard has announced his entry into Israeli politics. Pollard will run for the Knesset as part of the Israel First Party, a political platform founded by former deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel.

Making the announcement at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Pollard stated that the failures surrounding the October 7 attacks convinced him that Israel requires new political leadership. He expressed the belief that the country had been “abandoned and betrayed” and criticized existing leadership for failing to take responsibility for the security breaches.

Pollard, 72, was a civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy who was arrested in 1985 for providing classified information to Israel. After serving nearly three decades in prison, he was released on parole in 2015 and moved to Israel in 2020. Haskel, a former Likud lawmaker, welcomed his decision, noting that his support is both a privilege and a responsibility. The next Israeli general election is scheduled for October 27, 2026.