Jonathan Pollard Urges Israeli Defense Minister to Immediately Release Tal Yinon Dradik

Jonathan Pollard released a video on Tuesday demanding that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Kitzinger act to free Tal Yinon Dradik, who was detained for allegedly violating an administrative order issued by Central Command Chief Aviv Blot. Pollard expressed strong frustration with the Israeli government’s continued use of administrative orders against settlers and accused Blot and the Shin Bet security service of persecuting Dradik due to his efforts to establish hilltop settlements in the West Bank.

Pollard directed his main demand at Defense Minister Kitzinger, reminding him of his previous statements about ending administrative detentions of settlers and urging him to act accordingly by releasing Dradik immediately. He also called on Kitzinger to instruct the Shin Bet to cease using British Mandate-era powers against settlers. Pollard sharply criticized Aviv Blot and called for his removal, while also holding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responsible for the policies targeting Dradik.

Tal Yinon Dradik, a resident of the Binyamin region and father of four, was arrested about three weeks ago for allegedly breaching an administrative order that confined him to house arrest at his mother-in-law’s home. Dradik and the legal aid group Honenu claimed the order was impossible to comply with and had informed the Central Command before his arrest. Following his detention, Dradik began a hunger strike in protest and was recently hospitalized at Hadassah Mount Scopus due to deteriorating health. Pollard urged decision-makers to act swiftly to secure Dradik’s release.