Photo Credit: Miriam Alster/Flash90
Demonstrators holding up signs calling for Jonathan Pollard's release, in 2012

But worse, this week is likely to see an increase in violence – the Palestinians are often most dangerous when they want to get their message across. Last  week, they stoned a car traveling on a highway – a mother was critically injured, her three daughters hurts as well. The baby was labeled as “matsav anush” – a term that usually means mortally wounded, not expected to live. Some return from matsav anush, most do not.

What will this week see? Certainly a nightmare of traffic throughout parts of Israel; perhaps rockets, almost certainly more stoning attacks. Yesterday a soldier was injured by rocks…how many more?

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So Obama – again, I ask you – please, please don’t come to Israel if all you come for is to pressure us to do your will and ignore our nation’s needs, our safety. Enough. Seriously – send us an email if you feel you have to but unless you are bringing Jonathan Pollard on your plane – don’t come.

And know that the commandment to redeem captives is one of the most important. We will do all we can to bring Jonathan Pollard home. No, he is not innocent of wrong-doing. No one ever said that. But he has served his time – and another 4 times as much as he should have served. Longer than those who commit murder in your country, longer than those who transfer military secrets to your enemies. Longer than rapists. Enough. Justice prolonged to long fast becomes injustice.

Bring Jonathan Pollard home…or else, honestly, we have better things to do the week before Pesach than listen to you.

Visit A Soldier’s Mother.

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Paula R. Stern is the co-founder of Retraining4Israel (www.retraining4israel.com), a new organization working to help olim make aliyah successful. Paula made aliyah over 30 years ago with her husband and their three children. She lives in Maale Adumim and is often referred to as “A Soldier’s Mother”. She is now a happy wife, mother of five (including two sabras), and grandmother, happily sharing her voice and opinions with others. She is also a senior tech writer and lead training instructor at WritePoint Ltd. (www.writepoint.com). Please visit her new website: www.israelheartbeat.com