Friday, February 09, 2007

Free Mordechai Vanunu

It is rarely acknowledged that Israel has nukes, about 300 of them. No one knows for sure because that nation is not part of the Non Proliferation Treaty. Funny that Iran is, but is threatened with nuclear destruction. Israel isn't and threatens to nuke Iran. Following the rules doesn't help unless Uncle Sam is on your side.

Huffington Post must be congratulated for being one of the few media outlets who have dared to acknowledge that Israel is a nuclear power. Mordechai Vanunu was the first person to give the world proof that Israel is very well armed. He paid a terrible personal price for his convictions. Vanunu was imprisoned for 18 years and is now living under house arrest, just like banned dissidents in South Africa. Desmond Tutu certainly has no qualms about linking Israel to apartheid era South Africa. He has nominated Vanunu for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Vanunu's suffering isn't over. He defied the ban against him by speaking to reporters and he is once again on trial. If Israel is a democracy, it has a funny way of showing it.