International Campaign to Free Vanunu

PRESS RELEASE

March 17, 2005

CHARGES SERVED AGAINST VANUNU: A SHAMEFUL ATTEMPT TO SILENCE WHISTLEBLOWER

On the afternoon of March 17, Mordechai Vanunu, the Israeli nuclear

whistleblower who spent 18 years in prison for exposing Israel's

secret nuclear program, was served with official notice, that he is

to be brought to trial for speaking to the international media.

Vanunu, receiving sanctuary at St. George's Cathedral in East

Jerusalem since his release from prison last April, has been charged

with violating the restrictions that were imposed against him upon

his release from prison. The restrictions, based on the British

Mandate State of Emergency Regulations of 1945, prohibit Vanunu from

making any contact with foreign nationals, speaking to the media,

leaving Israel, coming within 300 meters of a foreign embassy or

international borders and even changing his place of residence

without approval from Israeli security agencies. Vanunu is also

charged of "attempting to leave the country," for his bid to attend

Christmas Eve Mass in Bethlehem, in December 2004. Vanunu is not

being charged with any security breaches or divulging information

concerning Israel's nuclear program, rather, simply for the fact that

he granted interviews to international media.

The restrictions against Vanunu, which will expire next month but may

be renewed indefinitely, were denounced at a press conference held by

the Campaign to Free Mordechai Vanunu yesterday in East Jerusalem. A

panel of international lawyers and public figures had come to Israel

to lobby for Vanunu's full freedom. Attorney Fredrik Heffermehl

(Norway), an expert on international law who was part of the

international delegation, said today: "The charges against Vanunu are

a red flag to the world media. A man is actually being charged for

the "crime" of speaking to reporters."

Rayna Moss, an Israeli with the International Campaign to Free

Mordechai Vanunu, stated: "A government with grave security, public

safety and social problems to deal with; a government that includes

several members who are under investigation on criminal and

corruption suspicions; a government that continues to pursue a secret

nuclear program that it conceals from its own citizens and from the

world - is prosecuting a citizen merely for speaking to the media.

This is a shameful attempt to silence Vanunu and a gross violation of

his human rights. The restrictions against Vanunu should be revoked

immediately, these pathetic charges should be withdrawn and he should

be let free."

Contact information:

In Israel: Rayna Moss: Tel. 972-50 -7368236, email:

legalese@netvision.net.il

In the USA: Felice Cohen-Joppa, Tel/Fax 520-323-8697, email:

freevanunu@mindspring.com

In Britain: Ernest Rodker, Tel. +44-20-8672-9698, e-mail:

campaign@vanunu.freeserve.co.uk

In Norway: Fredrik Heffermehl, Tel. +47-2244 8003 Fax: +47-2244 7616

email: fredpax@online.no

www.vanunu.com www.vanunu.co.uk www.vanunu.org

=============

2. AP wire service story

Israeli whistleblower Vanunu indicted

Posted on Thu, Mar. 17, 2005

PETER ENAV

Associated Press

JERUSALEM - Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu was

indicted Thursday for violating the terms of his release from prison,

the Israeli Justice Ministry said.

Vanunu was freed from an Israeli prison in April after completing an

18-year sentence for revealing secrets of Israel's atomic program to

the Sunday Times newspaper in London.

Under the terms of his release, the former technician at the Israeli

nuclear facility in the Negev desert town of Dimona was barred from

leaving Israeli territory and contacting foreigners. The restrictions

were in force for a year and their extension was expected to come up

for consideration in coming weeks.

On numerous occasions, Vanunu has tested the limits of his release by

granting interviews to foreign news media. He also was stopped by

Israeli police on Christmas Eve while attempting to attend Midnight

Mass in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, outside his permitted area

of travel.

Since his release from prison, Vanunu has been living at a Jerusalem

church compound.

Israeli authorities have said they fear Vanunu may have more nuclear

secrets to share with the world. Vanunu, a Jewish convert to

Christianity, has said he has nothing more to disclose and wants to

leave the country.

=================

3. Mordechai Vanunu statement from March 16 Jerusalem press conference

MORDECHAI VANUNU, AT MARCH 16 PRESS CONFERENCE IN JERUSALEM, BEFORE

GETTING NEWS OF THE INDICTMENTS:

At a Jerusalem press conference yesterday, March 16, with Daniel

Ellsberg (US), Jennifer Harbury (US), Fredrik Heffermehl (Norway) and

Rayna Moss (Israel), Vanunu said, "I have no more secrets to tell and

have not set foot in Dimona for more than 18 years. I have been out

of prison, although not free, for one year. Despite the illegal

restrictions on my speech, I have again and again spoken out against

the use of nuclear weapons anywhere and by any nation. I have given

away no sensitive secrets because I have none. I have not acted

against the interests of Israel nor do I wish to. I have been

investigated by the police again and again, and re-arrested twice,

but they have found nothing. I have done nothing but speak for peace

and world safety from a nuclear disaster...

"I did not seek to harm Israel, but rather to warn of an enormous

danger. I do not seek to harm Israel now. I want to work for world

peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons. I want the human race to

survive."

=============

4. Action Alert: Israeli government contact information

PLEASE IMMEDIATELY PROTEST THIS CONTINUED PERSECUTION OF MORDECHAI VANUNU

The severe restrictions placed on Mordechai Vanunu upon his release

from prison April 21, 2004 are a grave injustice which keep Vanunu

from truly being free after serving his full 18 year sentence in

Ashkelon Prison. The restrictions violate Vanunu's freedom of speech

and association, and forbid him from leaving Israel. These March 17

indictments, just a month before Vanunu's restrictions are to be

reviewed, are a continued outrage. We need to tell Israel to stop

punishing him, dismiss these indictments, lift the restrictions and

let him go.

Please contact the following officials:

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon

3 Kaplan St.

Hakirya, Jerusalem 91007 ISRAEL

Fax: +972 2 566 4838

Email: rohm@pmo.gov.il

Ms. Tsippi Livni

Minister of Justice

29 Salah al-Din St.

Jerusalem 91010 ISRAEL

Fax: +972 2 628 5438

Email: sar@justice.gov.il

Mr. Gideon Ezra

Minister of Internal Security

P.O. Box 18182

Jerusalem 91181 ISRAEL

Fax: +972 2 581 1832

Email: sar@mops.gov.il

Daniel Ayalon, Ambassador of Israel

3514 International Drive NW

Washington, DC 20008 US

Fax: 202-364-5607

Email: ambassador_sec@israelemb.org

For those in the U.S., information for Israeli Embassy in D.C.:

Daniel Ayalon, Ambassador of Israel

3514 International Drive NW

Washington, DC 20008 US

Phone: 202-364-5500

Fax: 202-364-5607

Email: ambassador_sec@israelemb.org

Visit http://mfa.gov.il/mfm or

http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/israel1.html to find the contact

information for Israeli Embassies in your country.

-end-

Felice Cohen-Joppa

Coordinator

U.S. Campaign to Free Mordechai Vanunu

POB 43384

Tucson, AZ 85733

Phone/Fax 520-323-8697

freevanunu@mindspring.com

www.nonviolence.org/vanunu