Jack Cohen-Joppa & Alison Dellit
As he walked out the prison door on April 21, the thumping beat of a police helicopter overhead, the shouts from the press and the cheers and jeers of demonstrators just outside the massive gate may have prevented Mordechai Vanunu from hearing the flutter of 18 white doves taking flight.
These living symbols of peace, one for each year of his life lived behind bars, were set free by the international gathering of supporters to celebrate the whistleblower's freedom.
Vanunu worked as a technician at Israel's Dimona nuclear facility from 1976 to 1985. In a 1986 interview with the British Sunday Times, Vanunu revealed evidence that Israel possessed and produced nuclear weapons. Israel, which to date has refused to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, has never confirmed or denied the information.
Later that year, Vanunu was kidnapped by Israel's secret service, Mossad, in Rome. After a secret trial in Israel, he was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for treason and espionage.
On his release, Vanunu was restricted to living in a particular address and prevented from leaving the city of Jaffa at all, forbidden to talk to foreigners at all, denied his passport, forbidden to talk to anyone about his work at the plant and forbidden to enter embassies or airports.
Nevertheless, he was not cowed. "I am Mordechai Vanunu. I am proud and happy to do what I did", he told the crowd outside the prison.
Hostility to Vanunu is very high. As his car pulled out of the prison area, it was pelted with eggs and hit by fists and boots. On April 23, the English edition of Maariv Online held a poll on what should be done with Vanunu, one of the options was "killed". Due to protest, the site changed the poll to "Is Vanunu a hero or a traitor?", nearly 60% voted for "traitor".
Given this, it was matter of some concern that Vanunu's address was run in the press. Under pressure from supporters, the Israeli government announced on April 22 that Vanunu would be able to speak to media and foreigners, as long as he did not discuss his work at the plant. Vanunu was also allowed to stay at a church until April 25.
When asked what measures had been taken to ensure his saftey, Israeli justice minister Tomy Lapid explained none were. "He's surrounded by at least 100 radicals who are worshipping him so I'm sure they'll take care of his safety", Lapid said.
Vanunu has appealed to Norway to give him a passport on humanitarian grounds.
[Article compiled from reports on the Free Mordechai Vanunu site. Visit <http://www.vanunu.freeserve.co.uk/>.
From Green Left Weekly, April 29, 2004.
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