(JNS.org) Imprisoned Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard returned to his jail cell in North Carolina on Sunday, March 9 after undergoing emergency surgery on his kidneys, intestines, and gallbladder last week. Pollard’s wife, Esther, said after a phone conversation with her husband that he is “very weak” and “totally drained and worn out,” according to Israel Hayom. Pollard, arrested in 1985 on charges of spying for Israel, is the only person in U.S. history to receive a life prison sentence for spying for an American ally.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with President Obama about the issue of Jonathan Pollard’s release when the two leaders recently met at the White House, Netanyahu told Israel Hayom in a recent interview. “Pollard shouldn’t be in jail or in the hospital,” Netanyahu said. “The time has come to release him. I spoke about this with Obama.”

Pollard has been suffering from various pains and underwent surgery for an unspecified medical problem during his hospitalization. Over the last year, Pollard’s medical issues have caused him to lose consciousness several times.