- With these words to the world, Israel's captive declared
his freedom today, after 18 years of "cruel and barbaric" treatment
in prison for telling the truth about Israel's secret nuclear arsenal
-
- At 11 am, Vanunu walked out the door into Shikma prison's
entry yard. A roar erupted from hundreds of demonstrators outside the locked
main gate. Supporters at the gate were jostled by detractors behind, some
shouting "Kill Vanunu!"
-
- Moving deliberately past the press, surrounded and trailed
by assorted officials and guards, Vanunu walked to the gate. Holding both
hands high with the signs of victory and peace, he stepped up, onto the
bars to see and acknowledge his supporters.
-
- His brothers Asher and Meir, and Meir's young son Luca,
had accompanied Vanunu out the door, and rejoined him as he returned to
the forest of cameras and microphones.
-
- Vanunu made a statement in English. I have no more secrets
to tell; I want to leave Israel but they are restricting me. My treatment
was cruel and barbaric; I was punished hard because I am became a Christian.
I am a symbol of survival of the human spirit of freedom. I don't want
to harm Israel. Open the Dimona reactor for inspection. I want to go to
the United States and marry and have a life.
-
- Vanunu then responded to questions for several minutes
as Meir nudged him to quit repeatedly. Given the extreme restrictions placed
on Vanunu's actions, Meir looked concerned that his brother might talk
himself back into prison.
-
- Asked about being a hero, Vanunu replied, "All those
who stood behind me and who supported me for 18 years are the heroes."
-
- Vanunu made a point to speak of his kidnapping in Italy,
and to say that a photo of the woman reported to be "Cindy" was
not the female Mossad agent who lured him to Rome in September 1986.
-
- And he told the press, "I want President Bush, and
Tony Blair, Gerhardt Schroeder, and Putin to [work] for my release from
Israel."
-
- Before getting into a car, Mordechai Vanunu said he was
going to St. George's Anglican Church in Jerusalem to give thanks to God.
-
- - end -
-
- Still to come...
- - New address for writing letters of support to Mordechai
-
- U.S. Campaign to Free Mordechai Vanunu
- 520-323-8697 call for Israel mobile #s.
-
- =================
- 2. Action to Take
-
- These restrictions on Vanunu's freedom are intolerable.
They abuse his human rights to the point of endangering his life.
-
- Please vigorously protest these restrictions and express
your concern for Mordechai Vanunu with faxed letters and telephone calls
to the Israeli Embassy in your country.
-
- Washington, DC
- Political Department
- Tel: (202)364-5581, 5582
- Fax: (202)364-5490
- Press Office
- Tel: (202) 364-5538
- Fax: (202) 364-5610
-
- Ottawa, Canada
- Tel. (613)567-6450
- Fax: (613)237-8865
-
- London, United Kingdom
- Tel: 0207 957 9500
- Fax: 0207 957 955
- E-mail: info-assist@london.mfa.gov.il
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