UK: We salute your great courage

An international delegation of 80 individuals from a dozen 
countries and from Israel welcomed Mordechai Vanunu when he was 
released from an Israeli prison last week. He had been imprisoned 
following his exposure of Israel's nuclear weapons program in a 
British newspaper. Vanunu revealed that Israel had more than 200 
thermonuclear weapons.

He was jailed for 18 years, 11 of which were spent in solitary 
confinement. It is a remarkable tribute to his strength that 
after such treatment his spirit was unbroken and that upon his 
release he again denounced the nuclear weapons program being 
undertaken secretly by Israel

The number of weapons will have increased during his period of 
detention. The International Atomic Energy Agency which has 
campaigned against Iran, Libya, the Democratic People's Republic 
of Korea and some other countries, has done absolutely nothing to 
investigate or insist that Israel should abide by the Nuclear 
Non-Proliferation Treaty and dismantle its nuclear weapons.

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London sent a message of greeting 
on Mordechai Vanunu's release. He wrote: "I salute your courage 
and determination, sacrificing your freedom for the sake of a 
nuclear free Middle East and nuclear free world. I hope at some 
point you may want to come to London to meet the many supporters 
who have campaigned tirelessly on your behalf."

Keith Locke MP, Foreign Affairs spokesperson for the Green Party 
of Aotearoa/New Zealand wrote: "We salute your great courage and 
welcome your freedom. We are deeply saddened by the huge 
sacrifice you have been forced to make for telling the truth 
about Israel's bomb. However, by standing true to your 
principles, you have made a considerable contribution to the 
struggle to free our planet of nuclear weapons."

Other messages to Vanunu were sent by Melvyn Bragg, broadcaster, 
writer and critic; Michael Mansfield, QC and International human 
rights lawyer; Daniel Ellsberg, US whistleblower who revealed the 
Pentagon Papers; Julie Christie, film actor; Harold Pinter, 
playwright and actor and many others.

Despite having served the penalty for his alleged crime Mordechai 
Vanunu faces severe restrictions on his movements following his 
release.

"It is absolutely disgraceful that these restrictions are being 
imposed on a man who has finished his 18-year sentence, has no 
charges to face and has suffered so much already", said Rayna 
Moss of the Israeli Free Vanunu Campaign.

Vanunu will:

1.have to register to live in an Israeli city of his choice. 
2.have to give notice to the authorities if he wishes to travel 
to another city. 3.not be allowed to leave Israel for six months 
— a restriction that will be reviewed at the end of six months 
and could be renewed. 4.not be allowed to contact foreigners 
either by phone or in person. 5.not be allowed to go within 100 
metres of any embassy, visit any port of entry, come within 300 
metres of any international boundary and may not be allowed to 
worship in a church of his choice.

* * *

For more information go to http://www.vanunu.co.ukor 
http://www.vanunu.com