Republican Senator John McCain called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to inform him that he intends on releasing a public statement in support of the release of convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard.

The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement that until now, McCain was one of the most ardent opponents in the U.S. senate of Pollard's release, but now the U.S. senator has pledged his support for the move.

Open gallery view Jonathan Pollard Credit: AP

Netanyahu reassured McCain that he intends on continuing his efforts to bring about the release of the Jewish spy, who was an intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy when he was convicted of spying for Israel in 1985.

McCain's voice joins those of other U.S. officials, including former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and ex-CIA Director R. James Woolsey.

Minister Moshe Kahlon of Likud will visit Pollard next week to officially inform the American citizen that the Netanyahu government has decided to publicly lobby the White House for his release.