News and Document archive source
copyrighted material disclaimer at bottom of page

NewsMinewar-on-terrorisraeldissent — Viewing Item


Vanunu israeli nuclear whistleblower is released

Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
   http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aGkw2SWYpE_U&refer=top_world_news

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aGkw2SWYpE_U&refer=top_world_news

Vanunu, Israeli Nuclear Whistleblower, Is Released (Update3)
April 21 (Bloomberg) -- Mordechai Vanunu, who was convicted of treason for shedding light on Israel's secret nuclear weapons program, walked out of prison after 18 years, saying he was treated brutally behind bars and remains proud of his actions.

Vanunu, 49, raised his hands in victory signs as he left Shikma prison in Ashkelon, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of Tel Aviv. Wearing a white checkered shirt and black tie, Vanunu was cheered by hundreds of supporters from Israel and overseas who stood outside the maximum-security facility.

``To all those who called me a traitor, I am saying I am proud and happy to do what I did,'' Vanunu told reporters and camera crews who broadcast his remarks live around the world. ``You didn't succeed in breaking me. You didn't succeed in making me crazy. I am ready to start my new life.''

Vanunu, who spent 12 years in solitary confinement, was convicted of treason at a closed trial in 1986 for giving the London-based Sunday Times details of Israel's work on nuclear arms. The material included photographs of the Dimona nuclear plant where he worked.

Guards didn't stop Vanunu's impromptu press conference, which took place inside the prison gates and appeared to be an immediate violation of government terms for his release. The Interior Ministry yesterday issued a series of guidelines that said Vanunu wouldn't be able to communicate with foreigners or leave the country and will be subject to close surveillance.

Vanunu, who converted to Christianity in the 1980s said there is no reason for a Jewish state and said Israel needs to resolve its problems with the Palestinians. He called on the government to open the Dimona plant to international inspection.

``Israel doesn't need nuclear arms, especially now that all the Middle East is free from nuclear weapons,'' he said.

He called his conditions in prison were ``cruel and barbaric,'' blaming Israel's Mossad and Shin-Bet security services.

The Justice Ministry said Vanunu's contact with the outside world must be restricted because he is still capable of causing ``serious damage to state security.'' He ``possesses state secrets, several of which he has yet to reveal and which have yet to be published,'' it said.

Weapons Program

Israel, which hasn't signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, has never confirmed it has a weapons program.

Vanunu, who will live in Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv, according to daily Haaretz, will have to report his movements to police and not meet ``foreign residents and citizens without advance permission,'' the ministry said. Today, Vanunu talked of the possibility of a future press conference and said he wanted to leave Israel and live in the United States.

Renewal of the restrictions will be considered toward the end of the one-year ban, it said. ``As Attorney General Meni Mazuz stressed to the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, the keys are in Vanunu's hands,'' the ministry said.

``They're putting him in a larger prison and threatening his life,'' Vanunu's brother, Meir, said in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corp. Israeli secret services and media have mounted ``a very hostile campaign'' and ``they continue to portray him as a very dangerous man for the country,'' he said.

Vanunu, who was in London to give the Sunday Times the nuclear secrets in 1986, was persuaded to go to Rome in a classic secret service ``honey trap'' by a woman posing as a U.S. tourist. Once in Italy, Israeli agents drugged him and spirited him out of the country by sea to face trial.



boycott
davidduke
jewish-hatred
state-dep
turner
150 thousand israelis rally for gaza exit { May 16 2004 }
27 israeli pilots refuse bomb civilians
Aglicans call for israel sanctions { September 24 2004 }
Albert einsert calls israel fascist state
Amnesty accuses israel of rights abuses impunity
Amnesty accuses warcrimes { November 4 2002 }
Anna nicole smith
Anti israeli dress [jpg]
Anti israeli dress { September 19 2002 }
Arab priest calls for christian bombers { January 14 2003 }
Auschwitz visitors with israeli flag verbally assaulted { August 10 2004 }
Boycott [jpg]
British workers union to boycott israeli goods
Britons palestinians { April 24 2002 }
Britons rank israel worst country
Buchanan says arabs have a point { January 16 2006 }
Bush administration objects to israeli purchase { March 23 2006 }
Bush letter criticizes { October 14 2002 }
Bush pullout { May 2 2002 }
Christendom zionist
Christian letter
Christians ashamed
Church leaders israelis tightening
Courage to refuse
Critics on campuses
Desmond israel { April 29 2002 }
Desmond tutu { October 17 2002 }
Doonsbury
Dublin palestinian
Elite israeli troops refuse to serve in territories { December 22 2003 }
Eu adds duties to settlement products { November 26 2003 }
Eu embarrased as poll labels israel biggest threat
Europeans distrust of israel { January 30 2005 }
Filipino nonukes group hails release of israeli whistleblower { April 21 2004 }
Former spanish pm says europe supports palestinians
Invisible enemy
Israel maybe guilty warcrimes { November 1 2000 }
Israel releases british journalist on nuclear story
Israeli ambassador destroys sweden museum exhibit { January 17 2004 }
Israeli sees WWII similarities { May 24 2004 }
Israeli teens oppose
Israelis fear arrests { November 12 2002 }
Israelis refuse wp { January 29 2002 }
Isreal and US top worst image worldwide
Its_the_occupation
Its_The_Occupation_Stupid [jpg]
Jews oust hilliard { June 26 2002 }
July 18 israeli consulate protest ny [jpg]
Mitchell report cnn
Mitchell report { December 2 2001 }
Mordechai vanunu arrested again
Nixon planned to go after israelis { May 27 2004 }
Nuclear whistleblower restricted from leaving israel
Oliver stone
Ousted rep hilliard
Paris airport palestine { July 5 2002 }
Pope humilated
Pope peace
Prime minister daughter active for israeli peace
Pro israel group makes video attacking professor { April 4 2005 }
Refuse to fight
Settlers willing relocate
Shark [jpg]
Step down
Sting sings
Target nonviolence { August 14 2002 }
Telaviv protest
Telephone bomb threat follows campus debate
Un chastises
Unpopular { July 30 2002 }
Us rabbis protest home demolition policies { January 16 2004 }
US vetoes UN condemnation of israel gaza strikes { October 2006 }
Vanunu israeli nuclear whistleblower is released
War wont bring economic salvation { May 6 2003 }
Washington post questions israeli lobby power { July 16 2006 }
Withdraw { April 4 2002 }

Files Listed: 76



Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security
Archives
Support one-state solution for Israel and Palestine Tea Party bumper stickers JFK for Dummies, The Assassination made simple