Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., April 11, 2008 Nisan 6, 5768 | | Israel Time: 15:24 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 15:21 11/04/2008 Vanunu mania By Meron Rapoport Tags: Mordechai Vanunu Mordechai Vanunu doesn't speak to Israeli reporters. He hasn't forgotten that they were silent during the 12 years he spent in solitary confinement. Vanunu does, however, speak to foreign reporters. They don't call him "the atomic spy," preferring terms like "whistle-blower." But if Vanunu, who was convicted in 1988 of giving details about Israel's nuclear program to the British press, speaks with foreign reporters - and it doesn't really matter what he says to them - he gets punished. Two weeks ago, the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court sentenced him to six months in prison for doing just that. Therefore, Vanunu essentially must remain silent. Vanunu does not want to live in Israel, and not only for ideological reasons. Gideon Spiro, coordinator of the Israeli Committee for a Middle East Free from Atomic, Biological & Chemical Weapons, and one of Vanunu's only Israeli friends, says it is unlikely that anyone in Israel would rent Vanunu an apartment. He is also liable to be attacked in the street. Vanunu therefore does not dare set foot in West Jerusalem, remaining in East Jerusalem. There, too, he lives in a kind of isolation. The Palestinians sympathize with him, says someone who knows Vanunu well, but are afraid to get close to him because the Mossad, the Shin Bet security service and the Defense Ministry all see him as one of the greatest threats to the State of Israel. "They planted around him, outside, the bars of the prison where he sat for 18 years," said Michael Sfard, the attorney who, together with Avigdor Feldman, represents Vanunu. Advertisement Two weeks ago, the court sent Vanunu back behind actual bars. Judge Yoel Tzur ruled that he had, on 14 occasions, violated the military order banning him from speaking to foreign citizens or even taking part in Internet chats. Once, the judge added, Vanunu tried to violate the order banning him from sleeping outside Jerusalem, in an attempt "to leave the territory of the State of Israel." Vanunu was arrested at a roadblock at the entrance to Bethlehem, where, as a Christian, he wanted to celebrate Christmas. In the eyes of the judge and the prosecution, going to Bethlehem is considered going abroad, as though Yitzhak Rabin's vision of traveling to Hebron with a passport had already come true. Mercy The state said at the trial that it "showed mercy" toward Vanunu and did not indict him for every meeting he held with foreign nationals. "We chose the incidents in which he spoke about the nuclear issue," sources in the prosecutor's office told Haaretz. But even the prosecution admits that Vanunu did not hand over damaging security information: "That's why we didn't charge him with espionage or giving information to the enemy." The prosecution says the orders restricting Vanunu's movements were approved by three High Court of Justice panels that were convinced Vanunu still possesses information that could jeopardize state security. Feldman says any such information is out of date. He says he was surprised by the custodial sentence, since Vanunu's offenses were "technical." First-time violations of this nature usually result in a suspended sentence, at most. Vanunu, however, is actually happy about it, Feldman says. He was disappointed to hear that his sentence was postponed until September. Feldman added that at the moment, Vanunu doesn't want to appeal. In the coming weeks, Feldman and Sfard will decide whether to honor his wishes, "which are contrary to the natural instincts of every defense attorney. Vanunu doesn't miss prison, where he spent 18 years, where he nearly went crazy for the 12 years in which he was in solitary," Feldman says. "But compared to his life on the outside, prison doesn't look like a bad place. Six-month terms are usually at Ma'asiyahu [Prison], and that's a nice place, you meet interesting people." In addition, interest in Vanunu will be renewed after he returns to jail, according to Peter Hounam, the Sunday Times reporter who published Vanunu's story 20 years ago and is still involved with it. Hounam says that Vanunu has nothing more to say about Israel's nuclear program, which he calls a 20-year-old story that doesn't interest anyone anymore. The only thing that's left, Hounam said, is the humanitarian issue. No regrets The first sign of renewed international interest in Vanunu came immediately after the sentencing, when Amnesty International (AI) classified him as a prisoner of conscience. Donatella Rovera, an AI researcher for Israel and the territories, said the organization did not recognize Vanunu as such while he was in prison because he had violated the non-disclosure agreement he had signed. But now the case is clear-cut, she said: He is being sent to jail just for speaking to people, and Amnesty finds that unacceptable. Vanunu's classification as a prisoner of conscience could mean demands from around the world for his release, along with possible protests outside Israeli embassies. Israel, Hounam said, is shooting itself in the foot. Even the prosecution acknowledges that had media consultants been responsible for deciding on an indictment, Vanunu would not have been charged. Vanunu has no regrets, Spiro said, and the state will not forgive him for that, but Vanunu has nothing more to say. Spiro, who has been trying in vain to raise awareness in Israel about the state's nuclear policy, is convinced that if Vanunu returns to prison it will generate new interest in the issue but he hopes it does not happen. "I don't want Vanunu to be cannon fodder," Spiro says. "He's already paid the price." "Vanunu doesn't want to be a symbol," Feldman said. "He acted courageously, but he's not a leader and he doesn't give speeches. If Israel would let him, this spark would have been put out a long time ago. At the time people warned that if [Soviet spy] Marcus Klingberg were released, state security would be harmed. Today he lives abroad and the censor barely deleted one word from his memoirs. But the attitude of Israel toward Vanunu can be described only in psychiatric terms: It has a Vanunu mania." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Banning Beijing boycott Israel's Olympic panel warns against mixing sports and politics. 20,000 strong Study released by Israeli think tank shows Hamas' military buildup in Gaza has peaked.

Read & React Olmert tells IDF commanders: Think of Palestinian suffering at roadblocks Responses: 70 Turkey seeks to block Knesset debate on Armenian genocide Responses: 28 Israel and PA: Hamas seizing half of all fuel sent to Gaza Strip Responses: 19 Yoel Marcus: If we're so worried about revenge, why was Mughniyah killed? Responses: 11 Editorial: Every freed Hamas prisoner is a risk Israel must take Responses: 12 Rosner's Domain Obama should prepare the world for disappointment And pro-Palestinians have high hopes for him (WTR) McCain thinks that Hagee wants peace (WTR) Guest: Who's going to take down Iran? Shut Up, I'm Talking! a dialogue More Headlines 15:03 Palestinians: Child, two militants killed in clashes with IDF troops in Gaza 11:07 Report: Secret Iranian missile site revealed in new spy photos 07:57 PM to IDF commanders: Think of Palestinian suffering at roadblocks 13:38 U.S. Presidential hopeful Obama launches Hebrew blog in Israel 14:25 IDF soldiers told to be vigilant when posting on Facebook 12:40 UN: Israel's removal of W. Bank roadblocks fall short of promise 10:20 Falashmura dream of aliyah fades as deadline approaches 10:31 IDF inquiry into Nahal Oz raid highlights security failures 13:23 Israel issues extradition order against sect leader over child abuse 08:27 Turkey seeks to block Knesset debate on Armenian genocide 09:13 New Zealand rabbis join search for missing Israeli tourist 07:16 Israel and PA: Hamas seizing half of all fuel sent to Gaza Strip Previous Editions Select Day 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved