Support visit for Mordechai Vanunu

by Justin Morahan - Peace People Sat Apr 22, 2006 16:27

Jerusalem Saturday

The savage restrictions on Mordechai have been renewed by the Israeli Government, signed by President Olmert and ratified by the Israeli Courts. Because there was a loophole concerning the West Bank and Gaza that had been pointed out by a previous Court, the new restrictions forbid him not just to keep very clear of the coastline of Israel and foreign Embassies or speak to foreigners or foreign press but add a new restriction: he is not allowed to go to Gallillee, Samaria or Gaza.
Along with this last new restriction, all previous restrictions, both petty and grave have been renewed by this hard-hearted government.

Apparently, Israel wants him to rot in the prison of Israel.

Mordechai is nevertheless in good spirits and in good health.

He is not a Jew (having converted to Christianity many years ago), he is not a politician who has a large base of support, so he has few friends in Israel.

Human rights organisations and what we call "the International community" have let him down. Only individual supporters around the world who keep in contact are his only hope for a future with freedom.

Thanks, Elaine, for having organised the vigil on Friday, thanks also to Colm and Maire, long-time activists for good causes, and thanks to the other people who turned up for the vigil.

by Elaine Fri Apr 21, 2006 20:55

of today's vigil.

by Máire - Peaceful Means Campaign et alia Thu Apr 20, 2006 20:36 gospelnonviolence at hotmail dot com

Vigil for Vanunu, tomorrow, Friday 21st of April, 2 - 3pm at Israeli Embassy, Dublin,
2nd anniversary of his partial release.
Trial starting 1st May.
Please support!

by Máire - Peaceful Means Campaign Wed Apr 19, 2006 23:41 gospelnonviolence at hotmail dot com

I am interested in hearing from anyone planning to hold a vigil at the Israeli Embassy of Friday 21st April. Is anyone else interested in attending a brief vigil in the early afternoon?

by Nuke Power Tue Apr 18, 2006 21:58

I think they did this as an example to other whistle blowers. His information was embarassing to israel as it showed them in a very negative light. Im sure there was a little revenge mixed in there too. Poor guy. He was/is probably no threat but other whistle blowers might be and im sure there are a few other skeletons in the israeli closet. His treatment sends a clear message to those potential whistle blowers. Ratting out your government always has nasty consequences for this reason. See how reluctant our own government tends to be about implementing whistle blowers charters. Bad people up to no good hate whistle blowers. It takes a very brave or very stupid person to do what vanunu did. Personally I think it was brave, though whether it was worth the sentence he suffered, I dont think so. Nuclear weapons are a deterrent and part of the deterrent is that your enemies know you have them so they won't dare attack. In my opinion this info would probably have been leaked (in a less embarassing way) at some point anyway. This doesn't help poor vanunu and he deserves our support. If only for the reason that no government should be allowed to get away with harshly punishing its citizens for throwing a searchlight on their illegal activities

by Justin Morahan - Peace People Tue Apr 18, 2006 13:00

If the whole world already knows that Israel has nuclear weapons, how can Israel say that Vanunu is a threat to Israeli security since he "may have more secrets to tell".
What secrets?
Mordechai has no more secrets, so why is Israel converting its State into some kind of prison complex for this one man?
He has served his time - cruel, inhuman time - and he must be set free.

by Máire - Peaceful Means Campaign Tue Apr 18, 2006 09:25 gospelnonviolence at hotmail dot com

The Glorious Easter Message

The history of nations,
Tells of many people,
Who suffered very greatly,
Under a foreign rule.
So let us now consider,
What we know can happen,
If rising against a system,
Which we know is very cruel.

We should never choose,
A violent way of dealing,
With evil and oppression,
No matter of what kind.
For we can just become,
Like those whom we oppose,
If we justify any killing,
Inside our little mind.

Trying to resist evil,
By any violent means,
Is absolutely useless,
And pointless to defend.
If we insist on gauging out,
Another person’s eyes,
We’ll only blind each other,
And that’s how it will end.

Counteracting violence,
With any violent means,
May make every one of us,
Just as evil too.
So let’s set out to follow,
A more successful way,
To bring about a peace,
Which will be just and true.

We need to use imagination,
And a lot of common sense,
In fostering peace initiatives,
And help to build a bridge;
We know that it is better,
When people agree to share,
Than when we kill each other,
On some embattled ridge.

The high moral ground,
Is better indeed by far,
Though nonviolent means,
Can cost us quite a lot.
Achieving lasting peace,
Is a noble and grand ideal,
The most worthwhile belief,
Which any of us has got.

Jesus wasn’t asking us,
To take a passive stance,
Turning the other cheek,
Wasn’t asking for a blow.
It was just a sign to bosses,
Of that time and place,
That respect for their servants,
Was what they ought to show.

Parting with undergarments,
In a debtor’s court,
Carrying a soldier’s pack,
For yet another mile,
Were nonviolent methods,
To resist the evil of His day,
They gave the people hope,
And maybe made them smile.

This was Jesus’ Third Way,
Which we should always seek,
So we can resist evil,
In a good and caring way,
It calls us to be brave,
To help out people in need,
We may even with our lives,
Someday have to pay.

Nonviolence can be seen,
As a spiritual challenge,
Of epical proportions,
Which are called for today.
It’s the only option left,
To get us anywhere.
But it is God’s Way of Peace,
For which we ought to pray.

Jesus didn’t do just nothing,
To bring peace here on earth,
He faced up to rampant evil,
And paid dearly with his life,
He asked that every person,
Be committed to His peace,
And live with one another,
Avoiding violent strife.

After crucifixion,
Resurrection came,
It reveals God’s Love for us,
Which we need every day.
Let’s call upon Christ Jesus,
To help us make this world,
A place where children grow,
And happily can play.

Trusting in His way,
Can even change our world,
It’s a way of bringing Peace,
Which we need never doubt.
Let’s spread the message of Easter,
Of the Glory of the Cross,
For Peaceful Means can bring,
A True Peace on Earth about.

May the Holy Spirit guide us,
When we seek a Peaceful Way,
For Jesus asked this clearly,
As ‘Love your Enemies’ He did say.

Let’s Pray for Liberation,
Of People Everywhere,
For Refugees seeking Asylum,
With whom We Need to Share.

When Opposing Domination,
Let’s adopt a Peaceful Way.
If Remembering a Nation’s Rising,
Let’s Remember Resurrection Day.

See Walter Wink Books:

Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way
(Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2003)
ISBN 0-8006-36093-0.
The Powers That Be: Theology for a New Millennium
(New York: Doubleday, 1998) ISBN 0-385-48752-5

Written by a Peaceful Means Campaigner,
Easter 2006

gospelnonviolence@hotmail.com

by Frank Tue Apr 18, 2006 01:29

No He did sell out his country thats why he spent 18 years in prison.

Indeed israel does have nuclear weapons See below

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/israel/tirosh.htm

This facility alone acts as deterent enough to madmen like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

by Justin Morahan - Peace People Tue Apr 18, 2006 01:21

This man did not sell out his country.
His country lied to the world by hiding their weapons of mass destruction.
This man told the truth.
Israel had and still has the nukes, not Iraq, not Iran but Israel.
His country sold out Vanunu, not prepared to face the truth when it stares them in the face.

by Frank Tue Apr 18, 2006 01:05

This man sold out his country,

If israel did not have nuclear weapons they would be alot less secure, Given that the leader of Iran( And pobably the rest of the Arab world)want to wipe them of the map.

There should be a vigil outside the Iranian embassy.

by Justin Morahan - Peace People Tue Apr 18, 2006 00:54

The Peace People are requesting that vigils be held at the Israeli Embassy and in other places around Ireland to mark the second anniversary of Vanunu's release which has not been honoured by Israel