Haaretz
Cheshvan 27, 5765
The
police international investigations unit detained nuclear whistleblower
Mordechai Vanunu on Thursday morning for questioning related to an ongoing
probe examining suspicions he leaked national secrets and violated legal
rulings since his release from prison.
Prior to Vanunu's detention,
police searched his room in the east Jerusalem hostel in which he is
staying. Officers confiscated documents and other materials.
The
search of Vanunu's room and the investigation itself are being conducted
at the direction of the attorney general and in coordination with the
state prosecutor.
Vanunu ended an 18-year prison term for treason
in April, but was barred from leaving Israel. Security sources had said he
was under surveillance on suspicion of giving unauthorized interviews to
foreign media.
In an interview with a Greek radio station in late
September, the Vanunu said that he does not feel safe in Israel, and
wishes to leave the country as soon as possible. Vanunu also used the
interview to reiterate his attacks on Israel's nuclear policies.
"The United States is pushing Iran with respect to its nuclear
weapons program. It needs to do the same thing to Israel," he stated. "You
can't focus on Iran and forget about Israel."
The former prisoner,
who was imprisoned on charges of spying and treason, also dealt with
Israel's nuclear secrets in the interview. "There are still nuclear
weapons materials in Israel, and I believe that during the past 18 years,
more have been built," he said.
Several months ago, authorities
opened a criminal investigation against Vanunu for granting an interview
to the BBC and the Sunday Times weeks after his release, in light of
security issues, since Vanunu had discussed secret knowledge he had been
forbidden to discuss in the interview.
"Vanunu has flagrantly
violated the conditions of his release in granting this interview," stated
police sources. "Something must be done to stop this."