Nuclear whistleblower Vanunu appeals jail term for foreign ties - Haaretz

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Tue., September 04, 2007 Elul 21, 5767

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		Mordechai Vanunu. (Eli Tesma / Bau Bau)

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Last update - 10:00 03/09/2007

Nuclear whistleblower Vanunu appeals jail term for foreign ties

By Reuters

Nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu is contesting a new jail sentence received for maintaining unauthorized ties with foreigners after he completed an 18-year prison term for treason, his lawyer said on Monday.

Attorney Avigdor Feldman said that Vanunu had filed an appeal on Sunday with the district court in Jerusalem, where a lower court sentenced him to six months behind bars in July.

"The immediate significance is that my client will not be going back to jail any time soon," Feldman told Reuters, adding that he expected a decision on the appeal within three months.

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Vanunu was first imprisoned in 1986 after giving a tell-all interview to a British newspaper about his work as a mid-level technician at Israel's main atomic reactor outside the southern desert town of Dimona. The disclosures all but blew away the iron-clad secrecy around Israel's assumed atomic arsenal.

Vanunu was freed in 2004 but barred indefinitely from leaving Israel by order of defense officials who argued that he had more state secrets to spill. Vanunu, 52, has denied that.

Under the terms of his release, Vanunu was also required to seek official permission for contacts with foreigners. Several unauthorized interviews he gave to international media about Israel's nuclear program landed him back in court.

Israel neither confirms nor denies having the Middle East's only atomic weapons under a policy of "strategic ambiguity" billed as warding off enemies while avoiding arms races.

Should the Jerusalem District Court rule against Vanunu's appeal, he could turn to the Supreme Court, Feldman said. However, the Supreme Court has already rejected a petition by Vanunu to overturn the travel ban imposed on him by the state.

A Jewish convert to Christianity, Vanunu argues that by refusing international inspections at the Dimona reactor Israel inflames regional tensions and risks a "second Holocaust". He has also said that Israel has no right to exist.

Jerusalem District Court had held off implementing July's sentence pending a decision by Vanunu on whether to appeal.

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1.	And murderers go free	09:48	\|	www.kibush.co.il	03/09/07

2.	Deception is the norm	09:52	\|	Natallie Durson	03/09/07

3.	vanunu	10:26	\|	schafe82	03/09/07

4.	he is a traitor	10:40	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	03/09/07

5.	200-300 nukes with ahmedinejad`s name on them	10:48	\|	don	03/09/07

6.	It seems to me...	10:51	\|	Colin Wright	03/09/07

7.	his disclosures added to israel`s security by re	12:36	\|	palestnian	03/09/07

8.	By the way. Have the italians apprehended the kidnappers yet?	12:52	\|	Jens	03/09/07

9.	What has Israel to hide?	13:22	\|	Petteri	03/09/07

10.	cipora kohn 4	14:11	\|	realism	03/09/07

11.	Kibbush,murderers go free if they`re pals	14:57	\|	Absolute Sweden	03/09/07

12.	Petteri,your Finland had been a russkie Troyan Horse of Europe.	14:59	\|	Absolute Sweden	03/09/07

13.	"30 Minutes with Vanunu"	15:37	\|	eileen fleming	03/09/07

14.	Petteri	16:14	\|	k	03/09/07

15.	Jens,why don`t yopu start with disclosing the identity of Bleking	16:15	\|	Absolute Sweden	03/09/07

16.	Vanunu	16:17	\|	anyone	03/09/07

17.	dr.vanunu	16:28	\|	scanadu	03/09/07

18.	Vanunu?s political / security value has gone 20 years ago.	16:52	\|	H.H.M	03/09/07

19.	to #5 don	17:00	\|	nobodysacred	03/09/07

20.	"ambiguity" about nuclear arsenal	17:02	\|	nobodysacred	03/09/07

21.	Vanunu : to Dear anyone	17:07	\|	eileen fleming	03/09/07

22.	Israel smears herself	17:10	\|	Murray	03/09/07

23.	Free Speech	17:28	\|	Scott	03/09/07

24.	In any other country	17:53	\|	Shafrir Yisraeli	03/09/07

25.	scott 23	17:59	\|	realism	03/09/07

26.	Murray #22	19:13	\|	eileen fleming	03/09/07

27.	WAKE UP Scott #23	19:26	\|	eileen fleming	03/09/07

28.	Eileen	00:24	\|	k	04/09/07

29.	in addition	02:06	\|	k	04/09/07

30.	diverting and PR	02:18	\|	k	04/09/07

31.	Counter-productive	08:20	\|	JW	04/09/07

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