This World

Israel's Nuclear Whistleblower (2004x7)

Air date: May 30, 2004

Since leaving prison in April 2004, former Israeli nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu talks about his arrest in a world exclusive television interview. In 1986, Mr Vanunu gave The Sunday Times photographs of Israel's nuclear reactor and they were published in the UK. They led experts to conclude, at the time, that Israel had the world's sixth-largest stockpile of nuclear weapons. Mr Vanunu was subsequently held by Israeli security services in a sting operation. He served an 18-year sentence after an Israeli court found him guilty on charges of spying. Although free from jail now, Israeli authorities insist the 50-year-old still possesses state secrets and that he must not leave the country or speak to foreigners. Mr Vanunu, however, says he has nothing new to reveal. In the interview he talks about the circumstances surrounding his arrest and answers the charges made against him 18 years ago. The film also focuses on the position of the Israeli authorities and why they still consider him to be a threat to national security.