Vanunu Sentenced to Six Months in Jail

Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu today received a six-month jail sentence for violating the terms of his earlier release from prison, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, April 30).

Vanunu was released from prison in 2004 after serving 18 years for passing on details of Israel’s Dimona nuclear reactor to a British newspaper.  The former nuclear technician was barred from leaving the country or speaking with foreigners, but subsequently talked to reporters and tried to visit Bethlehem in the West Bank, the Jerusalem Magistrates’ Court ruled.

“Although he violated restrictions imposed on him 14 times, the court decided to be lenient and sentence him only to six months in prison,” the court said.  The maximum penalty was seven years, AFP reported.

“The accused said he considered (the restrictions) illegal,” the court added (Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, July 2).

Back to top
About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines © Copyright 2008 by National Journal Group, Inc. The material in this section is produced independently for NTI by National Journal Group, Inc. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of the National Journal Group, Inc. All rights reserved.