Mordechai Vanunu Israelian Nuclear Weaponing case

Mordechai Vanunu, born 14 October 1954, also known as John Crossman is a former Israeli nuclear technician who, citing his opposition to weapons of mass destruction, revealed details of Israel's nuclear weapons program to the British press, the Sunday Times, in 1986. Before Vanunu quit his job on October 1985 he secretly smuggled in a camera and covertly took 57 photographs.

Negev Nuclear Research Center Located in the Negev desert near the city of Dimona

The newspaper insisted on verifying Vanunu's story with leading nuclear weapon experts, who agreed that Vanunu's story was factual and correct. Frustrated by the delay while the Sunday Time was completing its research Vanunu approached a rival newspaper, the tabloid Sunday Mirror, whose owner was Robert Maxwell. (allegedly an agent for Israeli intelligence services), had tipped off the Israeli Embassy about Vanunu in 1986. In result of these information the Israeli government decided to capture Vanunu

A number of prohibitions were placed upon Vanunu after his release from jail in particular:

• he shall not be able to have contacts with foreigners

• his telephone and Internet use shall be monitored

• he shall not enter Internet chat rooms

• he shall not own cellular phones

• he shall not approach or enter embassies and consulates

• he shall not come within 500 meters of any international border crossing

• he shall not visit any port of entry into Israel

• he shall not leave the State of Israel

Spy or idealist? • report of possible danger to public health, safety or environment (Transparency International)

• wanted to make the world aware of progressive nuclear proliferation of Israel

• an oath of secrecy would not bar him from exposing an illegal nuclear program (Transparency

International - whistleblower rights shall override employee “loyalty” oaths)

• assuming that the Israeli government saw nuclear weapons only as a deterrent, Vanunu was helpful in giving credible evidence of the weapons

• if Vanunu had been a spy for another state, he would long ago have been released in a swap with agents of that state

• he did not go to an enemy, but to the newspapers

• an internal disclosure could have jeopardized him and his family

• scientists agree that Vanunu primarily had photos to offer, in 1986. Now, almost 18 years later, the

Israeli claim that he has nuclear secrets is nothing but an empty pretext for continuing the punishment.

• Israel may find it embarrassing that Vanunu was abducted in violation of the territorial integrity of

Great Britain and Italy • a prisoner who has already served his time should be back in society

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Articles 3,5,7,8,9,10,11, 12,13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 27:

• right to liberty

• no subject to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment

• right to equal treatment before the law

• right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunes

• no subject to arbitrary arrest and detention

• right to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal

• right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty

• no subject to arbitrary interference with home, family or correspondence, nor attacks upon honor and reputation

• right to freedom of movement and residence

• right to leave the country

• right to seek asylum in other countries

• right o marry and found a family

• right to manifest religion

• right to freedom of opinion and expression

• right to peaceful assembly or association

• right to work

• right to participate in cultural life of the community

National Constitution of Israel (Human Dignity and Liberty Amendments)

• preservation of body and dignity

• no violation of property of a person

• no deprivation or restriction of the liberty of a person by imprisonment and arrest

• all persons are free to leave Israel

• right to privacy and intimacy

• no search shall be conducted in the private premises of a person

• no violation of confidentiality of correspondence, writings or records

• right to engage in any occupation or profession

Declaration of United Nations

Article 2

• settle international disputes by peaceful means

• no threat or use of force against territorial integrity of any state

Treaty of Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (1968)

• non- proliferation

• disarmament

• peaceful use

Geneva Convention

• political asylum

PROTECTION

• No whistleblower acts in Israel

GOOD FAITH?

"I have sacrificed my freedom and risked my life in order to expose the danger of nuclear weapons which

threatens this whole region. I acted on behalf of all citizens and all of humanity.”

"Everyone knows that I am in jail not because I raped, robbed or murdered. I sit here because of my ideals.”

"Vanunu is a difficult and complex person. He remains stubbornly, admirably uncompromisingly true to his

principles, is willing to pay the price" said Ha'aretz newspaper in 2008

Our little clerk is a diligent worker. He’s a simple mechanic. He’s a little man. Little men’s ears don’t hear, their eyes don’t see. … The clerk driver technician mechanic looked up. He stepped back and saw — what a monster. Can’t believe it. Rubbed his eyes and — yes, it’s there all right. I’m all right. I do see the monster. I’m part of the system. … You are the secret agent of the people. You are the eyes of the nation. Agent-spy, tell us what you’ve seen. Tell us what the insiders, the clever ones, have hidden from us. Without you, there is only the precipice. Only catastrophe. I have no choice. I’m a little man, a citizen, one of the people, but I’ll do what I have to. I’ve heard the voice of my conscience and there is nowhere to hide.