by Tal Yamin-Wolvovich
March 15, 2004

Confiding to a fellow prisoner in Shikma Prison in Ashkelon, nuclear spy Mordechai Vanunu said he saw no need to leak any more state secrets since "Israel was falling apart anyway".

The conversation took place yesterday (Sunday) in the prison courtyard when a fellow prisoner approached Vanunu and engaged him in conversation. In view of the prohibition against talking with Vanunu, the prisoner was immediately taken away and placed in solitary confinement. Interrogated by General Security Service officials, the prisoner recounted that Vanunu told him he predicted "the end of the State of Israel" and intended to leave the country as soon as he was released. Vanunu's 18 year prison term is due to end in April.

Vanunu also told the prisoner that right-wing activist and fellow inmate Noam Federman was making life tough for him, cursing him and inciting other prisoners against him. He felt vindicated that he was being released while extremists like Federman remained in jail.

With Vanunu's approaching release, security officials have been examining options for restricting his freedom and preventing him from disclosing further state secrets. One option under consideration will be to confiscate his passport and bar him from leaving the country. Last week, it was reported that Vanunu has filed a request to obtain an Israeli passport upon his release.