Mordechai Vanunu: a right Christian on trial for Freedom of Speech in the democracy of Israel

by Eileen Fleming
April 1, 2006

Dear Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Minister of Justice, Minister of Defence, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Relations, American Consulate, All Ministers, Spokespeople, Ambassadors and Coordinators,

I write to you as a concerned tax paying citizen of America and a committed Christian.

It is obvious that the only way Mordechai Vanunu can possibly harm Israel in the 21st century will be with bad PR.

The world is watching Vanunu's historic freedom of speech trial via the Internet.

There are no borders between we the people of the world who defend and insist that all democracies uphold all the Articles contained in The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Our hope is that all charges will be dropped and that Vanunu will be released from all restrictions. And that is the way Israel can avoid further damage to its democratic image.

-Eileen Fleming

"Many journalists come here to the American Colony, from CNN and NY Times. They all want to cover my story, but the EDITORS say no."
-Mordechai Vanunu @ the American Colony March 26, 2006 to WAWA Reporter + Editor

Vanunu's current trial fighting for the inalienable right to free speech in Jerusalem began January 25 2006 obfuscated by the Palestinian elections held on the same day and continues on May 1, 2006.

"CNN wants to interview me; but they say they can't do it because they don't want problems with the Israeli censor. BBC is doing the same thing. Sixty Minutes from the United States from the beginning they wanted to do a program, but because of the censor situation they decide not to do it. Also big media from Germany, France, Italy, Japan. None of them wants problems with the Israelis." [The Inside Looking Out: Report-69 by Jerry Levin. Mordechai: "Next Time I Won't Take A Taxi"/Hebron, West Bank, Palestine, February 27, 2006)

In the 1980's Vanunu, a secular Jew held a low tech position in the underground Dimona WMD Plant in the Negev. When Vanunu had a crisis of conscience about being a cog in the making of WMD's he obtained the keys to restricted areas and shot two rolls of film documenting the fact that Israel had gone nuclear. He resigned from Dimona and left the country but did not develop the film until eight months later in Sydney, Australia.

"After I left Israel I spent two days in a Moscow hotel wondering if I should tell my story to the Red Army, I decided to leave instead. The reason I had arrived there was that before I left the Dimona I had checked out the Palestinian Communist Party to see how the communists worked. I was curious and wondered about once I left Israel, that maybe they would help me. But when I witnessed the poverty and nothing but military cars everywhere I decided to get out of there."
- [Chapter 1: 16 Days in Israel Palestine]

In Sydney, Vanunu drove a cab and began attending the social justice St. John Cross Anglican Church where he was baptized a Christian. Shortly thereafter, he met Peter Hounam, a journalist for London's Sunday Times. After Vanunu shared his story and photos, Peter immediately flew Vanunu to London for 'safe keeping' while he began to vet the story. This took more days than Vanunu had patience to bear in solitude. Out of boredom Vanunu ventured onto the streets of London and met an American named Cindy. He had no clue she worked for the Mossad. He flew with her to Rome where her sister had an apartment. When Vanunu entered the apartment, he was hit on the head, drugged, bound and flung upon an Israeli cargo ship heading home. The London Sunday Times broke the story just as Vanunu disappeared.

While being transported to his closed door trial, Vanunu had been inspired to write on his palm; "HIJACKED" and the Rome flight number he had been on. A photographer captured the image and Vanunu's inspired move caused the Israeli government to shield him from the world ever since.

After 18 years in jail, most of it in solitary, Vanunu was released April 2004 under the Emergency Defense Regulations which were implemented first by Britain against Palestinians and Jews after World War II. The British Mandate has expired but the draconian restrictions of the British Mandate's Emergency Defense Regulations hold Vanunu and millions of Palestinians captive.

On May 14, 1948 The Declaration of the establishment of Israel stated:

"One the day of the termination of the British mandate and on the strength of the United Nations General Assembly declare The State of Israel will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel: it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion it will guarantee freedom of religion [and] conscience and will be faithful to the Charter of the United Nations."

If the British Mandate has expired why not the British Mandate's Emergency Defense Regulations?

Vaunu replied, "The reason given is security but it is because Israel is not a democracy unless you are a Jew."

After WW II, Attorney Yaccov Shapiro, who later became Israel's Minister Of Justice, described the Emergency Defense Regulations which denies Vanunu the inalienable rights of freedom of speech and movement as "unparalleled in any civilized country: there were no such laws in Nazi Germany."- [ N.S. Ateek, Justice And Only Justice p.34]

Vanunu stated, "This administration tells me I am not allowed to speak to foreigners, the Media, and the world. But I do because that is how I prove my true humanity to the world. My freedom of speech trial began January 25, 2006 for speaking to the media, the same day as the Palestinian elections and continues on May 1st."

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights/UDHR was ratified by Israel yet Israel defies them and America turns a blind eye and continues to provide three billion USA tax dollars a year to help maintain the occupation.

"Missing from Israel's security framing is the very fact of occupation, which Israel both denies exists…and that "security" requires Israel control over the entire country…rendering impossible a just peace based on human rights, international law, reconciliation." Jeff Halper, Obstacles to Peace page 1.

Article 1 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights upholds that: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in the spirit of brotherhood.

"When I decided to expose Israel's nuclear weapons I acted out of conscience and to warn the world to prevent a nuclear holocaust…The Israeli media demonized me...they published many lies about me...and Israel kept me totally isolated in prison for most of the 18 years...I am also regarded as a traitor because I was baptized a Christian."

Article 18 of the UDHR affirms that: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes freedom to change one's religion.

"My Christian conversion was also considered as treason and led to me receiving more time in jail than any murderer has ever served. The Israelis have this very beautiful article about freedom and liberty but they want to destroy anyone who criticizes them for revealing the truth to the world. The world must look and see what kind of democracy Israel is when one speaks out the truth."

Article 13 of the UDHR upholds that: Everyone has the right to freedom of movement. Vanunu and millions of Palestinians have been denied this inalienable right under the British Emergency Mandate Regulations and the concrete wall/electrified fence that has been repeatedly deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice.

Vanunu commented, "It's very sad that Hilary Clinton went to the Jewish Wailing Wall and forgot the real crying wall is the Palestinian wall…the apartheid wall... the wall is not for defense, but to keep this conflict permanent...the people who need the help are the Palestinian Christians. We need all Christians to come and see the true facts on the ground."

90% of all Christians who visit Israel Palestine never meet a Palestinian Christian.

" The Dimona is 46 years old; reactors last 25 to 30 years. The Dimona has never been inspected and Israel has never signed the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty but all the Arab states have...Twenty years ago when I worked there they only produced when the air was blowing towards Jordan ten miles away. No one knows what is happening now.

"The Israelis have 200 atomic weapons and they accuse the Palestinians and Muslims of terrorism. The world needs to wake up and see the real terrorism is the occupation and the Palestinians have lived under that terror regime for 40 years.

"Israel propaganda portrays all Palestinians as Muslim extremists and Hamas terrorists and neglect that Palestinian Christians are following the true message of Jesus Christ with nonviolent resistance. We need all Christians to come and see the truth for themselves."

Vanunu rejects the title prophet, but the similarities are striking. The prophets pointed out the truth but were ignored or ridiculed. Yet, they always retained hope for good news.

Vanunu concluded the interview with, "My hope is that the pullouts will continue in the West Bank and then they will bring down the wall."

There can be no peace without justice. Justice requires that every human being does indeed have inalienable human rights of movement and as stated in Article 19 of the UDHR: "everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression…to receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

In solidarity for human rights and Micah 6:8,

Eileen Fleming
http://www.wearewideawake.org