Marge Piercy
American novelist and poet (born 1936)
Mordechai Vanunu is an Israeli former nuclear technician who revealed details of Israel’s nuclear weapons program to the British press in 1986. He was subsequently abducted, convicted, and spent 18 years in prison, including over 11 in solitary confinement. Since his release in 2004, he has faced numerous restrictions and arrests for violating parole terms.
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About the Mordechai Vanunu
Mordechai Vanunu (Hebrew: mrdKHy vAnvnv; born 14 October 1954), also known as John Crossman, is an Israeli former nuclear technician and peace activist who, citing his opposition to weapons of mass destruction, revealed details of Israel’s nuclear weapons program to the British press in 1986. He was subsequently lured to Italy by the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, where he was drugged and abducted. He was secretly transported to Israel and ultimately convicted in a trial that was held behind closed doors.
Vanunu spent 18 years in prison, including more than 11 in solitary confinement, though no such restriction is mentioned in Israel’s penal code, nor imposed by his verdict. Released from prison in 2004, he was further subjected to a broad array of restrictions on his speech and his movement, and arrested several times for violations of his parole terms, giving interviews to foreign journalists and attempting to leave Israel. He claims to have suffered from “cruel and barbaric treatment” at the hands of prison authorities, and suggests that things would have been different if he had not converted to Christianity.
In 2007, Vanunu was sentenced to six months in prison for violating terms of his parole. The sentence was considered unusually severe even by the prosecution, who expected a suspended sentence. In May 2010, Vanunu was arrested again and sentenced to three months in jail on a charge that he had met foreigners, in violation of conditions of his 2004 release from jail. In response, Amnesty International issued a press release in July 2007, stating that “The organization considers Mordechai Vanunu to be a prisoner of conscience and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.”
Vanunu has been characterized internationally as a whistleblower and by Israel as a traitor. American whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg has referred to him as “the preeminent hero of the nuclear era”. In 1987, he was awarded the Right Livelihood Award for “his courage and self-sacrifice in revealing the extent of Israel’s nuclear weapons program”.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mordechai Vanunu revealed details of Israel’s nuclear weapons program to the British press in 1986, citing his opposition to weapons of mass destruction.
Mordechai Vanunu was lured to Italy by Mossad, where he was drugged and abducted, then secretly transported to Israel and convicted in a trial held behind closed doors.
Mordechai Vanunu spent 18 years in prison, including more than 11 in solitary confinement, which was not mentioned in Israel’s penal code nor imposed by his verdict.
Since his release in 2004, Mordechai Vanunu has been subjected to a broad array of restrictions on his speech and movement, and has been arrested several times for violating his parole terms.
In 1987, Mordechai Vanunu was awarded the Right Livelihood Award for ,his courage and self-sacrifice in revealing the extent of Israel’s nuclear weapons program,, and has been characterized internationally as a whistleblower.
16 Quotes by Mordechai Vanunu
- 1.
I also was producing, working on other materials for the hydrogen bomb. They call it lithium-6 and tritium. I was working on these and the only use for lithium-6 is the hydrogen bomb.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist
- 2.
My job was to produce plutonium that was used for atomic bomb.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist
- 3.
I worked every day there, so I knew all the details. But I needed only some proof. So the proof was photos.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist
- 4.
I smuggled the camera, it was no problem to smuggle the camera there. And I took 60 photos, two films, during the time when there was no one in the control room, in the building.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist
- 5.
But on the other side I am very glad that I can at least enjoy some freedom.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist
- 6.
Second point is no one here could predict or know that Israel was involved or started producing the hydrogen bomb – the most advanced and powerful atomic bomb that can kill millions of people.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist
- 7.
So I decided the only place I can speak to the world is from outside Israel.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist
- 8.
That was my way, and I also use the music after five years, I started hearing opera, opera, it was very good instrument to keep the spirit very strong because you feel like you are yourself singing opera, and I used to hear a lot of opera, they send me tapes.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist
- 9.
We can just assume they have much more and powerful, more advanced technology, all the new computers, everything could be much more easier and help them to build much more and many more nuclear weapons.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist
- 10.
The main points were: one, the amount of Israel’s nuclear weapons, how many Israel had, that no one could predict or know, including the CIA. They were thinking about a number like 10 or 15. But I came out with a number between 150 to 200.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist
- 11.
And I also take photos of hydrogen bomb, from another part of the building. It was not part of my job, but I succeeded to go and take photos of the hydrogen bomb.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist
- 12.
From the sea came a boat with some Israeli commando soldiers who took me by the commando boat to the yacht and put me on the yacht. In the yacht I asked people, who are you. And they said we are Israelis, French and British.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist
- 13.
I was allowed to meet my family every two weeks for a half hour.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist
- 14.
I said the kidnapping is a crime. I have the right to speak about the crime done against me. They didn’t like me to speak about this crime. So I decided to reveal it to the public.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist
- 15.
But I am not allowed to speak to foreigners and I am not allowed to leave the country. So I’m not so happy.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist
- 16.
I couldn’t sleep for two years, they tried to break my nerves. They used a lot of psychology to brainwash.
Mordechai VanunuIsraeli activist