Rabbis urge Cuba to free US prisoner Alan Gross

[webfact]

Rabbis urge Cuba to free US prisoner Alan Gross

WASHINGTON: -- A group of American rabbis have called on President Barack Obama to negotiate the release of a US Jewish contractor detained in Cuba since 2009.

Some 300 rabbis sent a letter saying they were concerned about the health of 65-five-year-old Alan Gross.

Mr Gross has served four years of a 15-year term for taking internet equipment to Cuba illegally.

His imprisonment has stymied efforts to improve diplomatic ties between Cuba and the US.

Cuba has offered several times to exchange Mr Gross for three Cuban intelligence agents accused of spying who are in prison in the US.

Washington has always refused, saying the cases are different.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-28651747

 

[bbc]2014-08-05[/bbc]

[johna]

I would be more sympathetic if, America ended its 50 year old embargo against Cuba.

[angel9999]

it's up to the USA to make the first move, Gross broke Cuban laws, Cuba has tried to negotiate, but US gov. is impotent....stuck in old ways that have not worked for over 50 years....

I thought Obama would take it further than he did, beyond better travel and financial factors, but no, it seems his hands are tied, all due to politics not human rights...

[Friendly Stranger]

Not to be cold about it but you'd think Obama would have more pressing issues than this.

[Kasset Tak]

The Cubans could ask US to give up Guantanamo Bay naval base in exchange of releasing that man. Cuba asked the Americans to leave and wanted to cancel the rent contract already 1959 but the Americans refuse to leave and continues to mail the yearly $4000 rent cheque...

[Bwanatickey]

I was lead to believe that life under Communism was so grim, a communist would risk death to escape, and they wanted to escape to America,

therefore

why are the Cuban citizens not scaling the fences of the U.S.A military base on their island and claim asylum on U.S soil?

[arunsakda]

They would be assaulted by Cuban forces for sure and likely the USMC as well.