Ex-spy Jonathan Pollard joins Sharren Haskel's Israel First party ahead of elections

BySHIR PERETS, KESHET NEEVAUGUST 23, 2026 12:08Updated: AUGUST 23, 2026 12:19Jonathan Pollard announced on Sunday that he was joining MK Sharren Haskel’s Israel First party ahead of the upcoming Knesset election, in a joint statement filmed near the Western Wall in Jerusalem.Pollard publicly declared his support for Haskel and the political direction of Israel First, a new right-wing party that the former deputy foreign minister launched in July.“I believe in Sharren. And I believe in Israel,” Pollard said during the joint statement.Haskel welcomed Pollard’s support, describing his decision to join the party as a significant boost for Israel First.“The Israel First party is receiving significant reinforcement today from Israeli hero Jonathan Pollard, who paid a very heavy personal price for his commitment to Israel and the Jewish people,” Haskel said.Jonathan Pollard. (credit: FLASH90)“To stand here today, near the Western Wall, and hear from him that he places his trust in me and in the path of ‘Israel First’ is a great privilege and a great responsibility. I accept that trust with humility and determination."Pollard was in prison for 30 years after he was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1987 for spying and providing Israel with top-secret classified information. He pleaded guilty to the charges. He was released on parole in 2015 and stayed in the US until 2020. He then immigrated to Israel and received a hero’s welcome from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon his arrival.However, Pollard has since become a strong critic of Netanyahu and has said the current government must be replaced in the upcoming election.Follow us on Google