SCHOOL THESIS

like a hero and in return he provided classified information. His ego was bolstered when
he was told, “You’re one of us.” 340
2. Addiction
Pollard admitted he used marijuana and cocaine on several occasions in the winter
between 1982 and 1983. 341
3. Ideology/Disillusionment/Loyalty
Pollard said he gave classified documents for ideological reasons, to help Israel,
rather than for money. He did not believe his actions constituted disloyalty, although he
did consider them dishonest. 342 Sarbin, Carney, and Eoyang speculate, “He seemed to be
acting out of a sense of self-justification, against a background of what [he] considered to
be a corrupt and morally defeated nation.” 343 Pollard holds a theory there are
three classes of Jews: those who travel to the holy land one or more times
a year; those who don’t or can’t travel there but give Israel money and
moral support; and finally, Jews like me who can’t afford to travel to
Israel or give money. When asked to help, we’re willing to do anything for
the love of our country. 344
In a 61-page motion submitted by the defense prior to sentencing, Pollard stated
his reason for spying “was to save Israel and to hurt the Soviet Union…[he] was
motivated by anti-Semitism in his office…and would commit espionage for Israel again
if given the chance.” 345
Pollard was later questioned under polygraph whether he had spied for Israel for
financial gain and if he had lied about his true reason for spying. His answer did not
indicate deception. He insisted initially it was for ideological reasons; however, Pollard
340 Ibid., 64.
341 Ibid., 34.
342 Ibid., 208.
343 Sarbin, Carney, and Eoyang, Citizen Espionage, 158.
344 Olive, Capturing Jonathan Pollard, 182.
345 Ibid., 61.
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