I had spent a most horrific day in Hebron-the most painful experience in my life. Hebron is where 450 Israeli settlers are protected by 3,000 IDF. Above the narrow winding stoned streets a thick deeply sagging netting is strung for protection from all the huge rocks, shovels, electronic equipment, furniture and all manner of debris that have been flung onto it by the settlers in hopes it will give way and hit any Palestinian who is passing underneath it.
Many of the formerly Palestinian homes in Hebron have graffiti such as “GAS THE ARABS” and Stars of David painted upon them. I felt like I had entered into every movie set and photograph I had ever seen of the ghettos during World War II.
When I returned to my room at the Ambassador Hotel that afternoon I had no intention of going back out. But the second I got out of the shower, the phone rang and it was Tony from Ramallah, whom I ‘met’ through the Palestinian Christian Yahoo Group. Tony just happened to be in Jerusalem that day seeing a Doctor and he invited me to dinner. We walked towards the Old City in search of a restaurant and on our way was St. George Cathedral where Vanunu had been living. I suggested we stop in and if Vanunu were there we could invite him along. As we entered the courtyard, Vanunu was leaving for a meeting. I imagine if we had arrived a few minutes later we would have missed him completely.
But, that chance meeting led to my opportunity to spend a few hours with Vanunu over the next few days. I was curious as to what kind of a kid he had been and why he became a Christian. In all honesty, Vanunu got the wrong idea about my curiosity, and I admit I had not given it a thought, that since he had been locked up for 18 years, anything female would arouse his interest. His English is also very limited and he did not comprehend my repeated declarative statement: “I am married! I am very married!”
Vanunu thought I was just an American bimbo, but I filled him in on how he got all caught up in my brain with little George and the incessant refrain: "DO SOMETHING!:
We were then able to spend a few hours together over the next few days. This opportunity offered me the opportunity to learn of his childhood and why and how he became a Christian. Those stories are covered in both of my first books, but, as of this writing Vanunu has quit talking to me, but some of his supporters have not.
On June, 20, 2007, Ernest, the Coordinator for the Campaign for a nuclear free Middle East, sent out an email update on Vanunu, who will learn on June 25th, if he is going back to jail for the interviews he gave to professional media in 2004, and ALL of them have been missing in action ever since!
What follows is but an excerpt of what Ernest wrote:
Dear friend and Vanunu supporter,
Earlier this year Mordechai was found guilty of the 21 charges of talking to foreign journalists; the court postponed sentencing until 25th June. Once again, the judges accepted the prosecution case, which was mostly based on statements from the security services, whether true or not, and evidence which Mordechai's lawyers are seldom allowed to see. Not much room there for justice! One of Mordechai's lawyers, Michael Sfard, commented after the decision said, "it should be understood, Mordechai has not been convicted for what he said, but just for the act of speaking".
Mordechaia's lawyers don't think the prosecution will ask for a prison sentence but, apparently, they can and might. More likely, there will be warnings to Mordechai of what could happen if he breaks his restriction orders in the future. In fact the restriction orders have now been renewed for the third year; four years in all.
So please watch out for news of the sentencing and be prepared to respond accordingly to Mordechai and / or the media…
…Mordechai has moved again, telling us he now has accommodation in a small hotel in the vicinity of St Georges Cathedral. It is hoped that this will better suit him at the present time.
Mordechai can still be contacted at vmjc1954@gmail.com
Or by post at: P O Box 20102, Herodian Post Office, East Jerusalem 91384, Israel.
Now, after over three years out of prison, it is still or even more important that we do not forget Mordechai's continuing fight for full freedom.
