Mordechai Vanunu Jailed by “Israeli” Court for Unauthorized Meetings

Local Editor

Mordechai Vanunu, the "Israeli" whistleblower who exposed "Israel's" nuclear arsenal to the world and paid for it with 18 years in jail, mostly in solitary confinement, was sent back to prison today for a new three-month sentence.

Vanunu, 56, was jailed for unauthorized meetings with foreigners, including his Norwegian girlfriend. Amnesty International said he had been living under a "draconian" military order and was now considered a "prisoner of conscience".

Vanunu, a former technician at "Israel's" secret nuclear plant near Dimona, appeared at the Jerusalem district court today, where he was led away to jail. "I survived 18 years - I could survive another six," he shouted. "Are you trying to discipline me? You cannot take my freedom of expression away ... You won't get from me in three months what you didn't get in 18 years."

In April 2007 he was convicted of meeting foreigners, including journalists and his girlfriend, and was sentenced to six months.

Vanunu said: "The stupid Shin Bet and Mossad spies are putting me back in prison after 24 years of speaking nothing but the truth."

"Everyone knows that Israel has nuclear weapons but no one is talking about it," he said. The world doesn't want nuclear weapons - not in "Israel", not in the Middle East and not anywhere in the world."

Amnesty International said the restrictions were not parole, because Vanunu had already served his full term. "They arbitrarily limit his rights to freedom of movement, expression and association and are therefore in breach of international law," Amnesty said.