Jonathan Pollard, a former US intelligence analyst convicted of spying for Israel, has apologized for his actions and announced he will run for Israel's parliament, the Knesset, in the upcoming elections. Pollard, who spent 30 years in prison for passing classified US documents to Israel, said in an interview that he made a mistake and now seeks to leave a better legacy.

Pollard was arrested in 1985 and pleaded guilty to espionage charges, receiving a life sentence in 1987. He was granted Israeli citizenship in 1995 while imprisoned and released on parole in 2015, eventually moving to Israel in 2020.

Pollard's decision to enter politics follows his criticism of Israel's leadership, particularly after the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which he believes demonstrated the government's failure to protect its citizens. He aims to remove the current Palestinian population from the Gaza Strip and bring the territory under full Israeli control.

The outcome of Pollard's candidacy is uncertain, but his announcement has already drawn attention to his past and his motivations for seeking public office. The Israeli parliament elections are scheduled to take place later this year, with various candidates and parties vying for seats.

The court or electoral commission will likely review Pollard's eligibility to run for office, considering his criminal record and parole status. The Israeli government and other candidates will also respond to Pollard's platform and criticisms in the coming weeks.