Whistleblower's and Democracies

"Many journalists come here to the American Colony, from CNN and NY Times. They all want to cover my story, but their EDITORS say no."
-Mordechai Vanunu @ the American Colony March 26, 2006 to WAWA Reporter + Editor

Israel's nuclear weapons whistleblower, Mordechai Vanunu's current trial for speaking to the Media began January 25, 2006 the same day as the Palestinian elections and resumes Septemeber 21, 2006.

In the 1980's Vanunu, a secular Jew held a low tech position in the underground Dimona WMD Plant in the Negev. When Vanunu had a crisis of conscience about being a cog in the making of WMD's he obtained the keys to restricted areas that were left in the shower room and then shot two rolls of film before resigning from Dimona. He left the country but did not develop the film until eight months later while in Sydney, Australia.

"After I left Israel I spent two days in a Moscow hotel wondering if I should tell my story to the Red Army, I decided to leave instead. The reason I had arrived there was that before I left the Dimona I had checked out the Palestinian Communist Party to see how the communists worked. I was curious and wondered about once I left Israel, that maybe they would help me. But when I witnessed the poverty and nothing but military cars everywhere I decided to get out of there."

While in Sydney, Vanunu worked as a cab driver and began attending the social justice St. John Cross Anglican Church where he was baptized a Christian. Shortly thereafter, he met Peter Hounam, a journalist for London's Sunday Times. After Vanunu shared his story and photos, Peter flew Vanunu to London for 'safe keeping' while he began to vet the story. This took more days than Vanunu had patience to bear in solitude. Out of boredom Vanunu ventured onto the streets of London and met an American named Cindy. He had no clue she worked for the Mossad.

Before the London Times printed the story and photos, the London Mirror, a tabloid printed Vanunu's photo along with their version of the story without ever interviewing him. Fearing for his life in London, and because Cindy offered him a safe haven in Rome at her sisters home, Vanunu flew to Rome with Cindy. Immediately upon entering the apartment, Vanunu was hit on the head, drugged, bound and flung upon an Israeli cargo ship heading home. The London Sunday Times broke their story just as Vanunu disappeared.

While being transported to his closed door trial, Vanunu had been inspired to write on his palm; "HIJACKED" and the Rome flight number he had been on.

After a closed dorr trial Vanunu spent the next 18 years in jail, most of it in solitary. He was released in April 2004 under the Emergency Defense Regulations which were implemented first by Britain against Palestinians and Jews after World War II. The British Mandate has expired but the draconian restrictions of the British Mandate's Emergency Defense Regulations continue to hold Vanunu captive.

On May 14, 1948 The Declaration of the establishment of Israel stated:

"One the day of the termination of the British mandate and on the strength of the United Nations General Assembly declare The State of Israel will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel: it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion it will guarantee freedom of religion [and] conscience and will be faithful to the Charter of the United Nations."

When questioned regarding the British Mandate's expiration and Israel's establishemt being contingent on adhering to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights which guarantees freedom of speech and movement denied to him, Vanunu replied;

"The reason given is security but it is because Israel is not a democracy unless you are a Jew."

After WW II, Attorney Yaccov Shapiro, who later became Israel's Minister Of Justice, described the Emergency Defense Regulations which denies Vanunu the of freedom of speech and movement as "unparalleled in any civilized country: there were no such laws in Nazi Germany."- [N.S. Ateek, Justice And Only Justice p.34]

Vanunu stated, "This administration tells me I am not allowed to speak to foreigners, the
Media, and the world. But I do because that is how I prove my true humanity to the world."


"Missing from Israel's security framing is the very fact of occupation, which Israel both denies exists...and that "security" requires Israel control over the entire country...rendering impossible a just peace based on human rights, international law, reconciliation." Jeff Halper, "Obstacles to Peace" page 1.

Article 1 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights upholds that: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in the spirit of brotherhood.

Vanunu responded, "When I decided to expose Israel's nuclear weapons I acted out of conscience and to warn the world to prevent a nuclear holocaust...The Israeli media demonized me...they published many lies about me...and Israel kept me totally isolated in prison for most of the 18 years...I am also regarded as a traitor because I was baptized a Christian."

Article 18 of the UDHR affirms that: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes freedom to change one's religion.

Vanunu informed me, "My Christian conversion was also considered as treason and led to me receiving more time in jail than any murderer has ever served. The Israelis have this very beautiful article about freedom and liberty but they want to destroy anyone who criticizes them for revealing the truth to the world. The world must look and see what kind of democracy Israel is when one speaks out the truth."

Article 13 of the UDHR upholds that: Everyone has the right to freedom of movement. Vanunu and millions of Palestinians have been denied this right under the British Emergency Mandate Regulations and the concrete wall/electrified fence has been repeatedly deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice.

Vanunu continued, "It's very sad that Hilary Clinton went to the Jewish Wailing Wall and forgot the real crying wall is the Palestinian wall...the apartheid wall... the wall is not for defense, but to keep this conflict permanent...the people who need the help are the Palestinian Christians. We need all Christians to come and see the true facts on the ground...The Dimona is 46 years old; reactors last 25 to 30 years. The Dimona has never been inspected and Israel has never signed the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty but all the Arab states have...Twenty years ago when I worked there they only produced when the air was blowing towards Jordan ten miles away. No one knows what is happening now...The Israelis have 200 atomic weapons and they accuse the Palestinians and Muslims of terrorism. The world needs to wake up and see the real terrorism is the occupation and the Palestinians have lived under that terror regime for 40 years...Israel propaganda portrays all Palestinians as Muslim extremists and Hamas terrorists and neglect that Palestinian Christians are following the true message of Jesus Christ with nonviolent resistance. We need all Christians to come and see the truth for themselves."

According to Fuad Farah, Board member of Sabeel and the Chairman of the Orthodox National Council in Israel told this reporter that, "Ninety percent of all Christians who visit Israel Palestine never meet a Palestinian Christian."

Vanunu rejects the title prophet, but the similarities are striking. The ancient prophets warned of danger and were mostly ignored, ridiculed or jailed. The prophets also always offered hope.

Vanunu concluded the interview, "My hope is that the pullouts will continue in the West Bank and then they will bring down the wall."

There can be no peace without justice. Justice requires that every human being does indeed have what we call in America: inalienable rights.
Inalienable means no government, no state can revoke them.

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression...to receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Vanunu remains in Jerusalem, a reminder and example of what happens to whistleblowers in Middle East democracies.