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 2000-12-22: Kohr-Pollard


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The Jewish Citizen

Kohr cautious on bid for Pollard clemency

San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage, Dec. 22, 2000

 
San Diego (special) -- Howard Kohr, AIPAC's executive director, is generally circumspect with the news media when discussing the influential lobby group's efforts in behalf of the U.S.-Israel relationship. 

For example when he briefs AIPAC groups, reporters are told in advance that his comments will be off-the-record. However, they may interview him on-the-record following such briefings.

Asked about the prospect that Jonathan Pollard will be granted clemency before President Bill Clinton leaves office, Kohr responded that Clinton is "actively taking a look at the moment" at the request. He noted that the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations has been spearheading the effort, but he declined to evaluate the chances for success. "We'll just wait and see what happens between now and Jan. 20," Kohr said. 

Kohr was accompanied to the Dec. 14 event featuring Sen. Ron Wyden by Joy Sisisky, regional director of AIPAC's office in Los Angeles. The granddaughter of Rep. Norman Sisisky (D-Va.), she came to Los Angeles for a master's program in Jewish organizational work offered jointly by Hebrew Union College and the University of Southern California. 

Introducing Kohr was Dr. Richard Katz, who is a past president of the United Jewish Federation of San Diego as well as the AIPAC national board member who chairs the group's committee on lobbying.

--- Donald H. Harrison