[R-G] Israel jails Vanunu over foreign contacts

[Tim Murphy]

Monday July 2, 2007
The Guardian
www.guardian.co.uk


Israel jails Vanunu over foreign contacts

By

Mark Tran and agencies


An Israeli court today sentenced Mordechai Vanunu, who served 18 years for
revealing nuclear secrets, to six months in prison for violating a ban on
speaking to foreigners.

Mr Vanunu completed his sentence in 2004, and his parole terms forbade him
from holding contacts with foreign nationals or giving interviews to the
press.

Israel limited his movements and personal contacts following his release
from jail on the grounds that he could reveal new details of his past work
at the Dimona nuclear reactor.

Today, he was found guilty of giving interviews to international media
outlets over the past three years.

"While returning a man to prison after he served 18 years there does not
bring joy to anyone, there was no other choice but to take this step to make
clear that the nation will defend its secrets and protect its security," the
prosecutor, Dan Eldad, said in a statement issued by the justice ministry.

The statement read: "The order stemmed from the fact that the accused had
hoarded in his memory classified information that has not been released, and
the release of which could harm the security interests of Israel."

Mr Vanunu has insisted he only wants to pursue a peaceful anti-nuclear
campaign. "All I want is to be free, to leave the country," he said.

He received his 18-year sentence after telling the Sunday Times about his
work as a technician at Dimona, with the disclosures tearing away the veil
of secrecy around an assumed Israeli nuclear arsenal.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,2116746,00.html

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