JERUSALEM (JTA) — Hundreds of protesters demonstrated outside of the United States Embassy in Tel Aviv, calling for the release of Jonathan Pollard.

Sunday night’s demonstration was led by Pollard’s wife, Esther.

“How is it that in spite of all the gestures that Israel is making at the request of the US, the Americans are not willing to make the smallest, most minimal gesture towards Israel, the release of one prisoner?” Esther Pollard said.

The protesters were mostly teenagers from the national religious camp, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Israeli lawmakers from both the government coalition and the opposition attended the demonstration.

Pollard is in the 29th year of a life sentence in a U.S. prison for spying for Israel while a civilian U.S. Navy analyst.

Earlier this month, Elliott Abrams, a former U.S. deputy national security advisor, said in an interview with i24 news, an international 24-hour news and current affairs television channel based in Tel Aviv,  that Pollard should be released.

An increasing number of figures involved in the U.S. government when Pollard was given his life sentence in 1987 now say his sentence should be commuted. The calls to release Pollard have intensified in the last year, with pleas from lawmakers and former top officials of both U.S. political parties.

Pollard is up for parole in less than two years.

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