Vanunu began talking the day he emerged from 18 years in a tomb sized cell, on April 21, 2004. He was sentenced for treason, but all he did was tell the truth and provide the proof that Israel had already manufactured of upwards of 200 nuclear warheads by 1985.
Two days before President Bush's first trip to Israel, and a day before Vanunu's appeal was to begin, Israel sentenced him to community service. Israel does not recognize occupied East Jerusalem as part of their community, but it is the only neighborhood that Vanunu has lived since April 21, 2004.
Israel denied Vanunu the right to serve the sentence in his own community, but on September 23, 2008, the Jerusalem District Court announced:
"In light of (Vanunu's) ailing health and the absence of claims that his actions put the country's security in jeopardy, we believe his sentence should be reduced."
Reuters quoted his attorney, Michel Sfard, "Vanunu was convicted by the Jerusalem Magistrates Court of 15 violations of a military order prohibiting him from talking to foreign journalists and leaving Israel. The original indictment included 22 different violations of the order, but during the trial the State Prosecutor's Office submitted an amended indictment, and he was eventually charged with 19 violations and was acquitted of four. According to the indictment, Vanunu held conversations with foreign journalists and provided them with news and details on Israel's nuclear reactor. He was acquitted of speaking to foreign nationals on the internet and via video and voice chats...Since his release Vanunu has campaigned for the Jewish state to be disarmed while denying Israeli officials' charges that he has more secrets that he could divulge if allowed to emigrate. We should be clear here that Vanunu was convicted for the very act of speaking to non-Israelis, rather than the content of those conversations. We do not consider this appropriate for a democracy in the 21st century." [1]
On November 24th, 2006 Vanunu wrote:
"My lawyer succeeded to reveal a few very important facts:
1. This General of the Army also was not allowed to see all the secrets that he is required to protect by these restrictions that they claim I know them. So, he gave orders of restrictions without knowing what he is protecting or that he is also following orders blindly, and Mossad Sheen Bet using its authority for just punishing me.
2. He testified that it is not a crime for me to talk with foreigners in general anywhere.
3. He testified that I can speak freely to any Israeli citizens about anything; it is not his concern what I am saying to them. These Israelis can give this information to any foreigners. It was difficult for the Judge to understand why this dichotomy exits between foreigners and Israelis. It means that it is not about secrecy but about something else."
Something else indeed, is how Vanunu has endured the last twenty-three years: Opera
"Opera inspires me, it gives me strength. When I was twenty-two I stopped listening to pop; The Beatles, Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan. I like challenges and began listening to opera. It builds skyscrapers in my mind. Opera is nutrition for the brain. Opera enlarges and develops the brain. Opera speaks to my brain...Every morning I am in my room until eleven listening to opera. I find ways to enjoy myself as my way of resistance. I transform anger into positive energy."
Vanunu also vents his righteous rage in daily 2 ½ hour walks during the most brutally hot hours of the day as he travels the streets of occupied East Jerusalem to the checkpoints at Bethlehem, Qalandyia and Lazarus' Tomb.
Every Wednesday he plays coed volleyball and has dinner with the community of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Old City, where he has been a member for the last three years. Every Sunday, Vanunu attends the English and then the German service because he likes the music.
I attended both services with him and then we had lunch on the roof of Papa Andreas restaurant. I reminded Vanunu of the lunch we had there last November on the final day of Sabeel's Nakba Conference: Read more...
Vanunu had consented to give a video interview update, but he was a no show on the roof where the videographer had set up to tape. Vanunu now admitted, "I was isolating myself from my supporters...I have felt bitter and held a grudge. But I realized that is not helping me. I am pragmatic and I will do what serves me and others.
