“Freedom” for Vanunu

Mordechai Vanunu worked as a technician at Dimona, Israel’s nuclear weapon’s production facility until he blew the whistle on the secret nuclear weapons program. After being kidnapped by Israli secret agents and convicted in a secret trial, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison — 11 years in solitary confinement. His release is set for April 20 or 21.

Vanunu gave photographs and a description of Israel’s weapons to London’s Sunday Times in 1986. From the evidence presented, experts estimated that Israel, at the time, had the world’s sixth largest stockpile. Currently, the CIA estimates the Israel arsenal at between 200 and 400 nuclear weapons.

The Israeli government intends to deny Vanunu a passport in order to prevent him from ever leaving the country, according to a March 11 Israeli radio report. The report noted that Vanunu may be denied access to a telephone and have his movements restricted in a form of house arrest.

Vanunu was nominated for the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize.