Mordechai Vanunu, the former technician at Israel's nuclear plant in Dimona, was freed Wednesday after serving 18 years in jail for leaking details of the country's previously covert atomic program to a British newspaper.
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Days before the expose in the Sunday Times in October 1986, Vanunu was seized by Mossad after being lured to Rome by a female agent. He was returned to Israel for a closed trial and subsequently imprisoned.
Vanunu, who has spent most of his sentence in solitary confinement, has attracted supporters from around the world, many of whom have already arrived in Israel in anticipation of his release.
In the run-up to his parole, the Israeli government, fearing that Vanunu would spill further details of its nuclear secrets, devised a series of restrictions, among them an embargo on interviews with the foreign press and the refusal to grant him a passport.
For his part, Vanunu, who converted to Christianity during his time in jail, claims to have no more nuclear secrets and wishes only to leave Israel.
Mossad's `Cindy' isn't talking Cheryl Hanin Bentov's family, friends, and acquaintances have known for years that Bentov is "Cindy," the Mossad agent who lured Vanunu to Rome and to his capture.
(21/04/04)
Limits on Vanunu eased ahead of release The move came after defense officials realized that some of the restrictions were legally untenable. Thus, the ban on discussing his abduction was lifted.
(20/04/04)
Vanunu: 'I've won, and have no desire to fight the state' 'The lock on the cell door will open,' the nuclear whistleblower said. 'They failed to break me during all these years. They didn't succeed in driving me mad.'
(26/02/04)
Vanunu tells brothers: I have no more nuclear secrets Vanunu's denial is his first response to reports that officials have been discussing the possibility of placing restrictions on him when he leaves jail.
(22/02/04)
State mulls steps to muzzle Vanunu In closed-door discussions, defense officials listed a a number of measures they were considering to prevent Vanunu from leaking more secrets when he is freed.
(10/02/04)
Comment and features Analysis / The triumph of ambiguity More than any other person, Mordechai Vanunu managed to pierce the cloud of "ambiguity" covering Israel's nuclear program.
Aluf Benn (21/04/04)
Analysis / Is he a genuine danger? The interior minister defended his order banning Vanunu from leaving the country by claiming there is "a genuine danger" he could damage the state.
Ze'ev Segal (21/04/04)
A damaging over-reaction Mordechai Vanunu served his sentence. Any further extraordinary efforts to silence him will only perpetuate his status as a symbol.
Editorial (20/04/04)
Ignore Vanunu; don't restrict him The restrictions and the declarations of the terrible damage he could cause are unnecessary. Leave Vanunu alone. Don't turn him into a cultural hero.
Reuven Pedatzur (20/04/04)
Who's afraid of Mordechai Vanunu? This is the secret that hasn't yet been told: the story of the security fiasco that made it possible for Vanunu to do what he did, and of the attempts at cover-up.
Yossi Melman (18/03/04)
Restricted, restrained 'I told Mordecai that I didn't trust the judicial system in Israel,' says his brother, Meir. 'I told him that they were holding a secret show trial for him.'
Yossi Melman (27/02/04)
Vanunu is being freed The ambiguity about Israel's nuclear capabilities and the matter of Vanunu's behavior after his release from prison, justify keeping track of his activities while respecting his personal liberties.
Editorial (26/02/04)
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