I couldn’t sleep for two years, they tried to break my nerves. They used a lot of psychology to brainwash.

Meaning of the quote

This quote describes how the scientist Mordechai Vanunu was treated very badly for two years. During this time, he was not able to sleep because people were trying to make him feel very stressed and upset. They used psychological tricks to try to change his thoughts and beliefs, in an attempt to control him.

About Mordechai Vanunu

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.

More about the author

More quotes from Mordechai Vanunu

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 Vanunu

Israeli activist

My job was to produce plutonium that was used for atomic bomb.

Mordechai Vanunu

Israeli activist

I worked every day there, so I knew all the details. But I needed only some proof. So the proof was photos.

Mordechai Vanunu

Israeli activist

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 Vanunu

Israeli activist

But on the other side I am very glad that I can at least enjoy some freedom.

Mordechai Vanunu

Israeli activist

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 Vanunu

Israeli activist

So I decided the only place I can speak to the world is from outside Israel.

Mordechai Vanunu

Israeli activist

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 Vanunu

Israeli activist

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 Vanunu

Israeli activist

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 Vanunu

Israeli activist

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 Vanunu

Israeli activist

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 Vanunu

Israeli activist

I was allowed to meet my family every two weeks for a half hour.

Mordechai Vanunu

Israeli activist

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 Vanunu

Israeli activist

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 Vanunu

Israeli activist

I couldn’t sleep for two years, they tried to break my nerves. They used a lot of psychology to brainwash.

Mordechai Vanunu

Israeli activist