Mordachai Vanunu Campaign

• Letter and resolution sent to Mordachai from UNISON Scotland following motion from UNISON Edinburgh Branch
• Update on Campaign at 21 May 2004 and details of how to write with messages of support

Letter to Mordachai Vanunu

Mordachai

I attach a copy of the resolution of the Scottish Council of UNISON, the public services trade union representing 150,00 members in local government, health, education and utilities. You're not alone and we'll look after you as best we can.

Best Wishes
Mike J Kirby
Scottish Convenor UNISON

Resolution

Mordachai Vanunu (an Israeli) was a technician at Dimona, Israel's nuclear installation, from 1976 to 1985. He discovered that the plant was secretly producing nuclear weapons. His conscience made him speak out and in 1986 he provided the London Sunday times with the facts and photo'' they used to tell the world about Israel's nuclear weapons programme. His evidence showed that Israel had stockpiled up to 200 nuclear warheads, with no debate or authorisation from it's own citizens.

On 30 September 1986, Mordachai was lured from London to Rome. There he was kidnapped, drugged and shipped to Israel. After a secret trial he was sentenced to 18 years for ‘treason' and ‘espionage' though he had received no payment and communicated with no foreign power. He was held in complete isolation for 11 years, only allowed occasional visits from his family, lawyer and a priest, conducted through a metal screen.

When Mordechai was released from solitary confinement in March 1998 Israel admitted he posed no threat to its security, yet his many applications for parole have been refused, because of his brave defiance and refusal to admit any guilt. Indeed Mordechai's opposition to nuclear weapons remains steadfast and his cruel punishment has not broken his spirit.

Mordachai is due to be released from prison on 22 April 2004, but those campaigning on his behalf are concerned that he might "die or disappear" before his release date.

We call on all levels of the union to:

1. Highlight at national level the plight of Mordachai Vanunu
2. Lobby the government to offer him political refuge on his release from prison
3. Support Amnesty International in their current campaign
4. Write a letter of support to Mordachai Vanunu (this to be forwarded through the offices of Amnesty International).

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APPEAL UPDATE

1. Update on Vanunu's appeal - article from Ha'aretz

2. Write and e-mail to Mordechai Vanunu

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1. Update on Vanunu's appeal - article from Ha'aretz

Prof. Uzi Even Vetoed as Consultant on Vanunu Case

By Yossi Melman May 15, 2004 - http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/427413.html

Yehiel Horev, the Defense Ministry's director of security, has forbidden Professor Uzi Even to serve as an expert consultant to the legal proceedings against the state that Mordechai Vanunu is now preparing, arguing that Even, despite having formerly worked at the Dimona nuclear reactor, does not have the necessary security classification. Moreover, Horev said, Even left the reactor in 1968, and is therefore ignorant of developments that took place there after that date.

Vanunu was released from prison last month after serving an 18-year jail sentence for revealing Israel's nuclear secrets to a British newspaper. However, since he is believed to still possess classified information, the security establishment has imposed various restrictions on him - for instance, he is not allowed to travel overseas.

With the aid of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), he is therefore preparing a petition to the High Court of Justice against these restrictions. As part of these preparations, Vanunu has asked Horev's department (known by its Hebrew acronym, Malmab), to return all the material confiscated from him in prison, including some 70 notebooks in which he recorded both his thoughts and notes and drawings relating to the Dimona reactor.

ACRI argued that it needs this material to prepare the petition, but Horev and the state prosecution refused. Therefore, a compromise was reached under which two people would be allowed to examine the material: Dan Yakir, ACRI's legal adviser, and an expert agreed to by both Vanunu and the state. Yakir thus proposed.

Even, a former Meretz MK and an outspoken critic of both Israel's nuclear policy and the restrictions imposed on Vanunu. However, Horev rejected the proposal.

"Since Vanunu's material relates to a period in which Dr. Even was not a party [to events at the reactor] and to a different line of work, other appropriate experts have been suggested," a Defense Ministry spokeswoman said.

Even responded that he was not surprised by Horev's decision. "Yehiel Horev wants his own associates to give an opinion, not independent experts," he said.

"In 1982, my security clearance was taken away when it became known that I am homosexual. Afterward, I waged a public campaign that led to these regulations being changed, including in Malmab, and I have a letter from prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, from 1993, saying that I am fit for any job."

Preparation of the petition has also been delayed by the fact that Yakir himself was only allowed to start examining the material on Wednesday, even though three weeks have passed since Vanunu's release.

*** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.***

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2. Write and e-mail to Mordechai Vanunu

Mordechai would love to hear from his friends and supporters. You can write to him at: Mordechai Vanunu c/o Cathedral Church of St. George 20 Nablus Road PO Box 19018 Jerusalem 91190 Israel He can also receive email now at vanunumvjc@hotmail.com However, he may not be able to reply.