- The Israeli supreme court today upheld a travel ban on
nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu, refusing to let him move abroad
on the grounds that he may reveal further state secrets.
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- Mr Vanunu, a former technician at the Dimona nuclear
reactor, served an 18-year prison term for revealing to the world the existence
of Israel's nuclear weapons programme. After his release in April, Israel's
security establishment barred him from leaving the country or speaking
to foreigners. His movements around seaports and airports have also been
restricted.
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- Mr Vanunu responded to today's verdict by saying it was
"a very sad day and shameful day" for Israel. He has said he
has no more secrets to reveal and wants to emigrate to Europe or the US.
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- "I want to go abroad and start my life as a free
man. If Israel is a democracy it should allow me to do it," Mr Vanunu
told Israeli and foreign media outside the court.
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- The Israeli defence ministry alleges that Mr Vanunu planned
to divulge more classified details about Dimona once out of the country.
In particular, Israel fears he could name Dimona colleagues, putting them
at risk of international sanctions or reprisals.
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- "The court ruled that Vanunu has the desire ...
to damage the security of the state and publish all the secrets,"
said Shai Nitzan, a lawyer for the state prosecutor's office. "Thus
the court accepted the restrictions in their entirety." Mr Nitzan
said the state was considering action against Mr Vanunu for violating several
of his post-release restrictions, including interviews he granted to foreign
media.
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- Mr Vanunu said he is considering further legal action.
He could request the three-judge supreme court panel be expanded to hear
the case again, even though such appeals are often rejected.
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- Mr Vanunu provided extensive evidence of Israel's nuclear
weapons programme, gathered through his work at the Dimona reactor, in
a 1986 interview with the Sunday Times. Israel operates a police of "nuclear
ambiguity", refusing to confirm or deny that it possesses nuclear
weapons. After the article's publication, Mr Vanunu was abducted by Israeli
agents and jailed for treason.
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- The American CIA estimates that Israel has between 200
and 400 nuclear warheads, making it the world's fifth largest nuclear power.
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- The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei,
visited Israel earlier this month to urge the government to begin talks
about ridding the Middle East of nuclear arms. Israel has refused to allow
UN nuclear inspectors into the country, and its refusal to sign the nuclear
non-proliferation treaty has prompted 13 votes by the UN general assembly
since 1987 calling on it to do so.
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- Mr Vanunu, who is now a prominent figure in the international
anti-nuclear weapons movement, criticised Dr ElBaradei's visit.
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- "I am very disappointed by Mr Baradei because I
expected him to go and inspect the Dimona reactor," Mr Vanunu said.
"The job of Mr Baradei is to go and see if what I said ... if it's
true."
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- Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited
2004 http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1269397,00.html
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