Tag Archives: israeli prison

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Staying Sober – An Analysis

Dr. Lawrence Davidson
Dr. Lawrence Davidson

Dr. Lawrence Davidson

STAYING SOBER – AN ANALYSIS Lawrence Davidson

Better News

There have been two news stories in the last couple of days that have raised spirits and hopes both in the Middle East and here in the U.S. It is very good to get positive news in a world of constant struggle against greater forces of injustice and brutality. Yet, it would be wise to restrain one’s glee. Those forces represent governments (including the one in Washington) and their bureaucracies. In both the U.S. and Israel they have the backing of a majority of citizens. Thus, those of us who see ourselves as actively fighting for the rights of the Palestinians on the one hand, and the protections of the U.S. Constitution on the other, almost certainly have additional decades of effort before a real light appears at the end of our dark and dangerous tunnel. That is why I want to look at these two news stories in sobering perspective.
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Release Mordechai Vanunu

Mordechai Vanunu in the garden of St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem. This picture was taken two days after his 21 April 2004 release from prison.
Palestine Monitor,12 August 2010
Many hundreds of people from around the World have signed an International Petition, calling on President Obama, Prime Ministers Netanyahu and Cameron, and other world leaders, to ‘do all they can’ to gain the release from Israel of Mordechai Vanunu (the Israeli nuclear whistleblower).

Vanunu was released from Ramle Israeli Prison, on Sunday 8th August, 2010, after serving almost 3 months in solitary confinement under cruel, inhuman and degrading conditions. This further sentence was imposed on Vanunu for speaking to foreign media. Although now out of prison he is still not allowed to leave Israel. The draconian restrictions remain on him, and he is unable to speak to foreigners, foreign media, or move freely within Israel without Government permission.

Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate, who together with Gerry Grehan, Chair of the Peace People, launched the International Appeal for Vanunu’s release, said today:

“It is unacceptable that Vanunu continues to be punished by the Israeli Government for telling the world that Israel has nuclear weapons. After 18 years in prison (12 years in solitary confinement), and a further six living under severe restrictions, including the recent 3 month prison sentence, how much longer will Israel continue to punish Mordechai Vanunu for telling the truth?”

The people of the world can do something to help by signing the International Campaign online petition which calls on world leaders to act to ensure Vanunu’s right to freedom of speech and freedom to travel – basic rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and many other International Laws, which Israel continues to break and act with impunity.

August 10th, is the Anniversary of Nagasaki, the day on which we remember those who died in the second nuclear holocaust, which followed on the first nuclear holocaust of Hiroshima. We remember too all those who are working to rid the world of nuclear weapons and ensure ‘No more Hiroshima’s’ ‘ No more Nagasaki’s’. It is fitting we act to support Vanunu in his struggle for a nuclear free Middle East, and a nuclear free world. He has paid a high price in following his conscious and calling us to do the same. He has suffered enough, time to let him go free.

President Obama, who has expressed the wish (as Vanunu does) for a nuclear free world, has the power to help free Vanunu, who 24 years ago expressed and acted to fulfil such a vision.

Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate, Peace People, www.peacepeople.com