Israel's weapons of mass destruction

national | miscellaneous | news report Saturday March 22, 2003 23:30 by mordechai vanunu

Who is Mordechai Vanunu ?

In September 1986 Mordechai Vanunu disclosed to the world that Israel had secretly produced 100-200 nuclear warheads. Before the publication of this information in the Sunday Times, he was kidnapped by the Israeli secret service. At a trial held in camera in Israel he was convicted of treason and espionage, and sentenced to 18 years imprisonment, of this the first 11 1/2 years were spent in solitary confinement.

Israel has between 200 and 500 thermonuclear weapons and a sophisticated delivery system. It has supplanted Britain as the 5th largest nuclear power. Possessing nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and an aggressive strategy for their actual use, Israel provides the major regional impetus for the development of weapons of mass destruction and represents an acute threat to peace and stability in the Middle East. The Israeli nuclear programme represents a serious impediment to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and is a potential nuclear flashpoint.

Mordechai Vanunu was employed as a technician at Dimona, Israel's nuclear installation, from 1976 to 1985. He discovered that the plant was secretly producing nuclear weapons. His conscience made him speak out and in 1986 he provided the London Sunday Times with the facts and photos they used to tell the world about Israel's nuclear weapons programme. His evidence showed that Israel had stockpiled up to 200 nuclear warheads, with no debate or authorisation from its own citizens.

http://www.vanunu.freeserve.co.uk/weapons.htm