Meeting with Mordechai Vanunu

In the picture, I am with Mordechai Vanunu, the former technician at Israel's nuclear plant in Dimona, known to many as the Isreal's nuclear whistle blower
Meeting with him was such an honor. Vanuno, from a big Jewish family that emigrated to Israel from Morocco in 1963. In the late 80's (can't recall the exact yr-86/87) feeling committed to do the right thing, Vanuno reveled to the people of Israel and to the rest of the world about the nuclear program Israel had in place. The London Sunday Times, learned about Vanuno's story and flew him to England, where he provided the newspaper with information based in facts. The London Sunday Times appointed specialists to verify the information, and after confirming, Vanuno's information, his story was published and the entire world learned that Israel had become a major nuclear weapon power. Days before the story was published in the Sunday Times, he was trick by a female friend of his, an Israeli secret agent and was apprehended and returned to Israel where he was charged with espionage and sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Vanuno, told us that the first 10-12 years, he was in solitary confinement in a very small tiny cell. In April 2004, Vanuno was released from jail, but not set free, as he was force to be in constant surveillance and unable to leave the country. Vanuno found sanctuary at St. George's Cathedral, home of the Bishop of Jerusalem. Vanuno was forbidden to speak to media or foreigners, keeping him as a "virtual" prisoner. Believing that this restrictions against him, is a clear violation of his human rights, he gives interviews to newspapers and groups like CPT.
At the end of our visit, some one in our group asked him if he regretted his decision, he stated: "I did the necessary thing" and even if I had to do it all over again, no doubt I will do it again.

Right after the 9/11, things all over the world change, and our view of the Muslim world became a narrow window, a window that was allowing us to see only the terrorist acts the "Muslims" were perpetrating against us. It became clear who the terrorist were...
We saw images in the news, where Muslims were celebrating the pain and chaos that their "Jihad" has caused our people. It was scary, I remember watching live in the news the first crash of the plane that turned into flames and melted down the Twin Towers, it was a hard thing to watch, but at that time, It was impossible to believe, it was for sure, a bad joke While I was hearing as an echo the news, a second plane is seen on the screen, and the chaos grew.
I remember the disbelief of the hole thing, everyone was calling everyone, and for days all we talk and hear was the thousands of people who died, images of the buildings burned, it just looked like a movie. It was a hard thing to digest, and for weeks I remember being sadden by all this.
As I was in my own process of looking into doing something more meaningful in my life, I joined a delegation with the Christian Peacemakers Team (CPT) the year after 9/11.
It was quite an experience as I was still apprehensive about the Muslims, I was excited about the opportunity to go to the Holy Land, and at the same time I was scared as one can be.
I was going to the Arab world, where Muslim presence is very significant. What if they bomb our plane, or maybe kill us while doing the delegation!
Before I continue, lets review a little time table about Israel/Palestine

• The State of Israel was established in 1948
• At that time 5 Arab armies, in support of the Palestinians attacked the new state, Palestine was defeated and Israel gain more territory
• As a result of this war almost 8000,000 Palestinians became refugees in their own land.
• In 1964 the Palestinian Liberation Front (PLO) was formed and the Palestinian got some governing authority.
• In 1967 Jewish and Arabs engaged into another war that lasted 6 days. With this war Israel gained control over Gaza and West Bank.
• In December of 1987, the first "Intifada"(up-rising) took place. The uprising was started as a false rumor from a misunderstanding outbreak that was used as a pretext and soon this "Intifada" became a well organized rebellion manipulated by the PLO.
• In September of 2000, the second "Intifada" took place after a group of Israeli police stop some Palestinians coming back from work and hold them for no reason at all, then the soldiers beat the Palestinians to death.
  

Then came the attacks of 9/11, and in September of 2002, I made my first trip to Israel/Palestine. What I witness there, was a totally different story.
To be Con't...