Mordechai Vanunu, 49, the Dimona reactor technician, who exposed Israel's nuclear program, blasted Israel and its law enforcement agencies immediately upon his release Wednesday morning from an Ashkelon jail.
Vanunu was abducted by Israeli special agents in Rome in 1986 and was secretly moved to Israel after providing the British Sunday Times with classified information about the Atomic Research Reactor at Dimona, where he had worked from 1977 to 1985.
The information, indicating that Israel was running a major nuclear military program, was published in October 1986.
Vanunu maintains that he revealed such information for reasons of conscience in order to promote a public debate on Israel's nuclear program, a subject surrounded by strict secrecy in Israel.
Vanunu's detention was not officially acknowledged until November 9, 1986. His trial, including the appeal before the Supreme Court, was held in secret and he has been prevented from speaking - sometimes by being physically gagged - at every court appearance since then. He was convicted on charges of "treason" and "aggravated espionage".
Vanunu walked out of the "Shikma" prison a free man at around 11 a.m. [local time] on Wednesday as his 18-year prison term came to an end.
Vanunu flashed victory signs as he walked out of the prison to be greeted by hundreds of supporters. Speaking over the loud cries of reporters, Vanunu made a statement in English at the gates of the southern prison, saying that he had been subjected to cruel and barbaric treatment during his incarceration.
He added that he had no further secrets to divulge, alleging that he suffered for 18 years because he was a "Christian" rather than a Jew.
Vanunu further said his central message was a call to open the Dimona nuclear reactor complex to international inspections.
More than 70 boxes of his personal effects, including letters and newspaper clippings, have already been removed from his prison cell.
Upon completion of his statement, he was driven away in a convoy of police cars, proponents yelling encouragement from one side of the vehicle, opponents screaming and making rude gestures on the other.
Earlier this week, Vanunu said he doesn't want to live in Israel, and hopes he can leave the country in the future. "I don't think the State of israel should exist", he added.
It should be noted that the Israeli authorities have declared Vanunu to be a "security risk", and officials have signed orders forbidding him to leave the country for a year and requiring him to obtain official clearance before speaking to foreign nationals or traveling far from his place of residence. He is not allowed to have a passport and is forbidden to approach ports and airports.
Along with Israel, the United States will be following Vanunu's words and deeds after his release. Gideon Frank, the director general of Israel's Atomic Energy Commission, met Tuesday with John Bolton, the U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, and the two discussed Vanunu's release. The working premise is that Vanunu will try to "cause problems" for Israel.
Attorney Avigdor Feldman, reinstated late last week as Vanunu's counsel after months of separation from the inmate, said last week that he believes Vanunu is a "rebel by nature", and so the restrictions imposed on him will merely goad him into trying to violate them. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
