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Shin Bet arrests U.K. journalist who interviewed Vanunu
Peter Hounam, the British journalist who has been covering the Mordechai Vanunu affair for years and is considered to be one of the closest people to the nuclear-whistle blower, was arrested Wednesday evening by the Shin Bet security service.
A gag order was placed on all details pertaining to the investigation.
Hounam, who interviewed Vanunu on Israel's nuclear program some 20 years ago for the Sunday Times, was scheduled to meet in Ramat Gan with Yael Lotan, an activist in a committee that worked towards Vanunu's release and against Israel's nuclear program. When he failed to arrive at the meeting, Lotan found out that Hounam was under arrest.
It was not clear whether Hounam was under full arrest or whether he was held for questioning. The reason for his detention was also unclear.
A BBC spokeswoman in London said the broadcaster was "very concerned" about Hounam's arrest.
The spokeswoman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to answer any questions about Hounam, including where he was arrested and whether he had met with Vanunu since his release.
Hounam arrived in Israel more than a month ago, ahead of Vanunu's release. Vanunu was freed on April 21, after spending 18 years in jail for espionage and treason.
Hounam was a member of the original Sunday Times team that interviewed Vanunu and then published his story in 1986. He left the paper several years ago and became a freelance reporter and also published books and produced films.
Unlike the other members of the team, Hounam stayed in touch with Vanunu and was active in the public struggle for his release.
Hounam visited Israel frequently over the past few months, and has been staying in a hotel in East Jerusalem for the past 6 weeks. During his stay, he has reported to the Sunday Times on Vanunu's release and has been preparing a documentary on the affair for the BBC.
He has also been in close contact with the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), which is working to file a petition against the restrictions imposed on Vanunu by the defense establishment since his release. Among others, Hounam was banned from meeting Vanunu, who has been living in a church in East Jerusalem since his release.
Hounam told Haaretz last week that he intended to return to Britain soon.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/432000.html
Hounam, who interviewed Vanunu on Israel's nuclear program some 20 years ago for the Sunday Times, was scheduled to meet in Ramat Gan with Yael Lotan, an activist in a committee that worked towards Vanunu's release and against Israel's nuclear program. When he failed to arrive at the meeting, Lotan found out that Hounam was under arrest.
It was not clear whether Hounam was under full arrest or whether he was held for questioning. The reason for his detention was also unclear.
A BBC spokeswoman in London said the broadcaster was "very concerned" about Hounam's arrest.
The spokeswoman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to answer any questions about Hounam, including where he was arrested and whether he had met with Vanunu since his release.
Hounam arrived in Israel more than a month ago, ahead of Vanunu's release. Vanunu was freed on April 21, after spending 18 years in jail for espionage and treason.
Hounam was a member of the original Sunday Times team that interviewed Vanunu and then published his story in 1986. He left the paper several years ago and became a freelance reporter and also published books and produced films.
Unlike the other members of the team, Hounam stayed in touch with Vanunu and was active in the public struggle for his release.
Hounam visited Israel frequently over the past few months, and has been staying in a hotel in East Jerusalem for the past 6 weeks. During his stay, he has reported to the Sunday Times on Vanunu's release and has been preparing a documentary on the affair for the BBC.
He has also been in close contact with the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), which is working to file a petition against the restrictions imposed on Vanunu by the defense establishment since his release. Among others, Hounam was banned from meeting Vanunu, who has been living in a church in East Jerusalem since his release.
Hounam told Haaretz last week that he intended to return to Britain soon.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/432000.html
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JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The British journalist who broke Mordechai Vanunu's account of Israel's nuclear secrets in 1986 has been released from Israeli custody, a day after his arrest.
Peter Hounam was shown on live television on Thursday walking out of the Jerusalem detention facility where he was being held and talking to reporters. His lawyers said he planned to leave Israel at the weekend.
Hounam was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of having arranged a television interview with Vanunu in violation of state gag orders.
Hounam's 1986 interview with Vanunu, a former technician at Israel's Dimona reactor, led independent analysts to conclude the Jewish state had stockpiled hundreds of nuclear weapons, making it one of the world's top atomic powers.
Hounam greeted Vanunu, a Jewish convert to Christianity, when the Israeli was freed on April 21 after completing an 18-year prison term for treason and has since spent time with him in a Jerusalem church where he now resides.
Simon McDonald, the British ambassador to Israel, had met Justice Minister Yosef Lapid earlier in the day to press for the release of the reporter, who interviewed Vanunu on behalf of Britain's Sunday Times in 1986, sources close to the talks said.
After the meeting, Israeli officials agreed to allow Hounam's lawyers to meet him for the first time since his arrest.
Since Vanunu was freed, he has been subject to a series of government-imposed restrictions, including a ban on travelling abroad, associating with foreigners without authorisation and speaking to the media.
Israel maintains a "strategic ambiguity" around its assumed nuclear arsenal.
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=518857§ion=news
Peter Hounam was shown on live television on Thursday walking out of the Jerusalem detention facility where he was being held and talking to reporters. His lawyers said he planned to leave Israel at the weekend.
Hounam was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of having arranged a television interview with Vanunu in violation of state gag orders.
Hounam's 1986 interview with Vanunu, a former technician at Israel's Dimona reactor, led independent analysts to conclude the Jewish state had stockpiled hundreds of nuclear weapons, making it one of the world's top atomic powers.
Hounam greeted Vanunu, a Jewish convert to Christianity, when the Israeli was freed on April 21 after completing an 18-year prison term for treason and has since spent time with him in a Jerusalem church where he now resides.
Simon McDonald, the British ambassador to Israel, had met Justice Minister Yosef Lapid earlier in the day to press for the release of the reporter, who interviewed Vanunu on behalf of Britain's Sunday Times in 1986, sources close to the talks said.
After the meeting, Israeli officials agreed to allow Hounam's lawyers to meet him for the first time since his arrest.
Since Vanunu was freed, he has been subject to a series of government-imposed restrictions, including a ban on travelling abroad, associating with foreigners without authorisation and speaking to the media.
Israel maintains a "strategic ambiguity" around its assumed nuclear arsenal.
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=518857§ion=news
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