Topic: Israel's nuclear whistleblower convicted of violating court
no photo
Mon 04/30/07 02:49 PM
An Israeli court on Monday convicted nuclear whistleblower Mordechai
Vanunu of 14 violations of a court order, which prohibits him from
contacting foreign journalists and of attempting to leave Jerusalem
without permission.

According to Israel's local daily Jerusalem Post, the Jerusalem
Magistrate's Court wrote in his verdict that Vanunu was well aware of
the order but flagrantly violated it.

The court ruled that the military injunction on Vanunu was necessary
because the defendant "holds within his memory" secret information, the
publication of which could jeopardize Israel's security interests.

It appears that most of Vanunu's conversations with foreigners were
through phone, and that those he met with were all members of the media.

Vanunu said following his conviction that the verdict was " additional
proof that there is no democracy in Israel," adding that all he wanted
was to move freely and to leave Israel.

In 1986, Vanunu, a former technician at Israel's main nuclear reactor,
provided pictures and documents to the London-based Sunday Times.
Experts thus concluded that Israel had a sizable nuclear weapons
arsenal, ranking it sixth in the world. As a result, Vanunu served an
18-year prison term for his disclosures.

Following his release from prison, Vanunu was forbidden to contact
foreigners and was required to inform authorities each time he planned
to leave Jerusalem.

davinci1952's photo
Mon 04/30/07 03:15 PM
and this means?...indifferent indifferent indifferent