15 dec 2015
Israel is expected to receive a German submarine capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The fifth German submarine to be delivered to Israel this year, Maariv Israel newspaper reported.
Worth $400 million, the German submarine is the most advanced and expensive of its kind, the newspaper added.
The Israeli newspaper stated that the Haifa-bound submarine will leave the German port of Kiel in the coming few days. The Israeli Navy is expected to receive its sixth submarine by 2019.
In September, Israel received its fourth German submarine, worth $657.28 million. The plan has been for Israel to receive six German made Dolphin-class submarines, each 68 meters long, with 10 torpedo tubes.
According to Israeli media, the Dolphin-class submarines can carry long-range nuclear heads and launch missiles; they are capable of remaining underwater for two weeks and evading monitoring devices.
The Maariv newspaper reported that German parties slammed the decision specially that it comes in light of the Israeli continuation of refusing the international and German pressures for making progress in the peace process.
The German Chancellor Angela Merkel suspended the deal of selling the Dolphin-class submarines for a few months after the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had refused in 2014 the German demands to stop settlement construction, but Germany retreated very soon.
Worth $400 million, the German submarine is the most advanced and expensive of its kind, the newspaper added.
The Israeli newspaper stated that the Haifa-bound submarine will leave the German port of Kiel in the coming few days. The Israeli Navy is expected to receive its sixth submarine by 2019.
In September, Israel received its fourth German submarine, worth $657.28 million. The plan has been for Israel to receive six German made Dolphin-class submarines, each 68 meters long, with 10 torpedo tubes.
According to Israeli media, the Dolphin-class submarines can carry long-range nuclear heads and launch missiles; they are capable of remaining underwater for two weeks and evading monitoring devices.
The Maariv newspaper reported that German parties slammed the decision specially that it comes in light of the Israeli continuation of refusing the international and German pressures for making progress in the peace process.
The German Chancellor Angela Merkel suspended the deal of selling the Dolphin-class submarines for a few months after the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had refused in 2014 the German demands to stop settlement construction, but Germany retreated very soon.
21 nov 2015
Institute For Science and International Security report claims Israel has 'wide range of delivery vehicles for its nuclear weapons,' including nuclear-capable cruise missiles.
A report [PDF] by the Institute For Science and International Security (ISIS) released last week claims Israel has 115 nuclear warheads and some 660 kg of plutonium.
Israel has never confirmed or denied having nuclear weapons under a policy of ambiguity aimed at deterring longtime Arab and Muslim adversaries.
The report, written by institute founder David Albright, is based largely on information leaked by Mordechai Vanunu in 1986, as well as intelligence reports, media reports and other research.
In his report, Albright reviews Israel's alleged nuclear activities at the Dimona nuclear reactor which started, he claims, shortly before the 1967 Six-Day War.
The report's assessment that Israel has some 660 kilograms of plutonium is slightly lower than the amount estimated by the International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM) because Albright believes the Dimona reactor's production capabilities are lower than what the IPFM researchers believe.
"The actual number of Israeli nuclear weapons is a closely guarded secret," Albright explains.
"Israel has a wide range of delivery vehicles for its nuclear weapons. With French assistance in the 1960s, Israel developed the nuclear-capable Jericho ballistic missile. It has developed several improved missiles since then on its own, as well as nuclear-capable cruise missiles. It also has aircraft that can deliver nuclear weapons. It may have the capability to launch nuclear-tipped cruise missiles from its submarines."
According to the report, Israel also illegally procured a wide variety of high tech nuclear equipment from abroad, that can be used both for civilian and military purposes.
"In the 1990s, under US pressure, senior Israeli government officials stated that Israel committed not to violate supplier controls to acquire dual-use goods for its nuclear programs," Albright notes.
However, "occasional procurements possibly intended for the nuclear program are observed despite this pledge," he notes.
Albright's estimate of the number of nuclear warheads Israel allegedly has is based on the assumption each warhead has 3-5 kilograms of plutonium. Based on the amount of plutonium he believes Israel has, it amounts to 165 warheads.
But Albright estimates Israel did not use all of the plutonium in its possession to build warheads, so the number of nuclear warheads it actually has is more likely around 115, as of the end of 2014.
A report [PDF] by the Institute For Science and International Security (ISIS) released last week claims Israel has 115 nuclear warheads and some 660 kg of plutonium.
Israel has never confirmed or denied having nuclear weapons under a policy of ambiguity aimed at deterring longtime Arab and Muslim adversaries.
The report, written by institute founder David Albright, is based largely on information leaked by Mordechai Vanunu in 1986, as well as intelligence reports, media reports and other research.
In his report, Albright reviews Israel's alleged nuclear activities at the Dimona nuclear reactor which started, he claims, shortly before the 1967 Six-Day War.
The report's assessment that Israel has some 660 kilograms of plutonium is slightly lower than the amount estimated by the International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM) because Albright believes the Dimona reactor's production capabilities are lower than what the IPFM researchers believe.
"The actual number of Israeli nuclear weapons is a closely guarded secret," Albright explains.
"Israel has a wide range of delivery vehicles for its nuclear weapons. With French assistance in the 1960s, Israel developed the nuclear-capable Jericho ballistic missile. It has developed several improved missiles since then on its own, as well as nuclear-capable cruise missiles. It also has aircraft that can deliver nuclear weapons. It may have the capability to launch nuclear-tipped cruise missiles from its submarines."
According to the report, Israel also illegally procured a wide variety of high tech nuclear equipment from abroad, that can be used both for civilian and military purposes.
"In the 1990s, under US pressure, senior Israeli government officials stated that Israel committed not to violate supplier controls to acquire dual-use goods for its nuclear programs," Albright notes.
However, "occasional procurements possibly intended for the nuclear program are observed despite this pledge," he notes.
Albright's estimate of the number of nuclear warheads Israel allegedly has is based on the assumption each warhead has 3-5 kilograms of plutonium. Based on the amount of plutonium he believes Israel has, it amounts to 165 warheads.
But Albright estimates Israel did not use all of the plutonium in its possession to build warheads, so the number of nuclear warheads it actually has is more likely around 115, as of the end of 2014.
17 sept 2015
Ze'ev Snir
IAEA votes 61-43 not to impose inspections on Israeli nuclear reactor after debate over proposal submitted by Egypt and supported by Syria, Iran, Libya, and Iraq.
In a 61-43 vote, the Inernational Atomic Energy Agency General Assembly on Thursday defeated a proposal submitted by Egypt and supported by Syria, Iran, Libya, and Iraq to force inspections on Israel's nuclear reactor in Dimona.
Israel had been working closely with the US and other Western allies behind the scenes in order to reach a majority that would block the proposal.
Israel has managed to block similar proposals in recent years, saying their purpose was mainly to single out Israel. But this was the first time the proposal was made in the context of the nuclear deal with Iran.
The Foreign Ministry sent envoys to a number of countries on several continents in order to convince them to oppose the two resolutions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also acting foreign minister, held talks with several leaders and foreign ministers, and asked them to oppose the motion.
The head of Israel's Atomic Energy Committee, Ze'ev Snir, spoke before the committee yesterday and condemned the Arab group over its attempt to single out Israel. Snir warned that "if the resolution passes, it will only hurt the credibility of the IAEA by politicizing the organization and reducing its valuable resources."
"This is clearly beyond the scope and mandate of the IAEA. This debate has been forced upon the economic committee year after year and most of the member states have understood this after voting down these proposals three times in recent years," he continued.
Snir spoke at length regarding the Iran issue, and said that it was the biggest regional threat. "Iran has secretly worked towards a nuclear deal for decades," Snir said. "Iran only came to the table under heavy pressure from international sanctions."
He emphasized that Israel sees great importance in the IAEA's work, and cooperates with the organization on a wide array of topics including nuclear security, general security, emergency response and technological cooperation. According to Snir, Israel has devoted its best qualified experts and has contributed from its vast experience and knowledge to the IAEA member states.
The Israeli representative stated that the Israeli government is set to increase its financial contribution to the organization through the peaceful nuclear program. He revealed that next month, Israel will host of international radiation containment and treatment workshop.
"I want to commend the technical cooperation with the IAEA," he said. "In the last year, Israel has conducted exercises dealing with emergency responses to damaged nuclear reactors."
IAEA votes 61-43 not to impose inspections on Israeli nuclear reactor after debate over proposal submitted by Egypt and supported by Syria, Iran, Libya, and Iraq.
In a 61-43 vote, the Inernational Atomic Energy Agency General Assembly on Thursday defeated a proposal submitted by Egypt and supported by Syria, Iran, Libya, and Iraq to force inspections on Israel's nuclear reactor in Dimona.
Israel had been working closely with the US and other Western allies behind the scenes in order to reach a majority that would block the proposal.
Israel has managed to block similar proposals in recent years, saying their purpose was mainly to single out Israel. But this was the first time the proposal was made in the context of the nuclear deal with Iran.
The Foreign Ministry sent envoys to a number of countries on several continents in order to convince them to oppose the two resolutions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also acting foreign minister, held talks with several leaders and foreign ministers, and asked them to oppose the motion.
The head of Israel's Atomic Energy Committee, Ze'ev Snir, spoke before the committee yesterday and condemned the Arab group over its attempt to single out Israel. Snir warned that "if the resolution passes, it will only hurt the credibility of the IAEA by politicizing the organization and reducing its valuable resources."
"This is clearly beyond the scope and mandate of the IAEA. This debate has been forced upon the economic committee year after year and most of the member states have understood this after voting down these proposals three times in recent years," he continued.
Snir spoke at length regarding the Iran issue, and said that it was the biggest regional threat. "Iran has secretly worked towards a nuclear deal for decades," Snir said. "Iran only came to the table under heavy pressure from international sanctions."
He emphasized that Israel sees great importance in the IAEA's work, and cooperates with the organization on a wide array of topics including nuclear security, general security, emergency response and technological cooperation. According to Snir, Israel has devoted its best qualified experts and has contributed from its vast experience and knowledge to the IAEA member states.
The Israeli representative stated that the Israeli government is set to increase its financial contribution to the organization through the peaceful nuclear program. He revealed that next month, Israel will host of international radiation containment and treatment workshop.
"I want to commend the technical cooperation with the IAEA," he said. "In the last year, Israel has conducted exercises dealing with emergency responses to damaged nuclear reactors."
23 aug 2015
Henry Kissinger and Golda Meir
Gov't papers dating from 1969-72 reveal American discussions about how to convince Israel to abandon pursuit of atomic weapons and to sign the non-proliferation treaty.
The US State Department published last week a volume documenting its Israeli foreign policy in 1969-72, which dealt directly with development of Israeli nuclear weapons, as well a possible American responseto a Soviet invasion of Israel.
The documents deal with secret meetings on the subject of Israeli development of Jericho surface-to-surface missiles with nuclear warheads, and the American decision to force Israel to quickly stop the project.
The volume was compiled using presidential papers and White House records, and in particular the files of the National Security Council, including memoranda sent to President Richard Nixon by his Assistant for National Security Affairs Henry Kissinger.
The Nixon administration established an ad hoc special review group to consider discussions with Israel on its nuclear program, whose position paper provides insight into the US government's approach to dealing with the question of Israeli nuclear weapons.
This paper was attached to a July 12 memo sent by the NSC's secretary to government officials, the Pentagon and the CIA. The document was to serve as the basis for a special meeting to discuss the Israeli nuclear issue, but President Nixon canceled the meeting and instead the document served as a basis for a meeting between National Security Council officials with Ambassador Yitzhak Rabin on the "issue of nuclear weapons".
Fears of a nuclear Israel
Gov't papers dating from 1969-72 reveal American discussions about how to convince Israel to abandon pursuit of atomic weapons and to sign the non-proliferation treaty.
The US State Department published last week a volume documenting its Israeli foreign policy in 1969-72, which dealt directly with development of Israeli nuclear weapons, as well a possible American responseto a Soviet invasion of Israel.
The documents deal with secret meetings on the subject of Israeli development of Jericho surface-to-surface missiles with nuclear warheads, and the American decision to force Israel to quickly stop the project.
The volume was compiled using presidential papers and White House records, and in particular the files of the National Security Council, including memoranda sent to President Richard Nixon by his Assistant for National Security Affairs Henry Kissinger.
The Nixon administration established an ad hoc special review group to consider discussions with Israel on its nuclear program, whose position paper provides insight into the US government's approach to dealing with the question of Israeli nuclear weapons.
This paper was attached to a July 12 memo sent by the NSC's secretary to government officials, the Pentagon and the CIA. The document was to serve as the basis for a special meeting to discuss the Israeli nuclear issue, but President Nixon canceled the meeting and instead the document served as a basis for a meeting between National Security Council officials with Ambassador Yitzhak Rabin on the "issue of nuclear weapons".
Fears of a nuclear Israel
Kissinger, Richard Nixon, and Yitzhak Rabin
The committee's position paper states that US objectives were to convince Israel to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) "at an early date (by the end of this year) and ratify it soon thereafter" as well as to assure in writing that it would not the first to introduce nuclear weapons in the region and assure in writing that it will stop production of Jericho missiles "or any other nuclear-capable strategic missile".
The paper also notes that the agreement does not enter into force immediately because the procedure of obtaining signatures takes from six months to a year and "even after the Treaty is in force it gives a signatory six months to enter negotiations with the IAEA for a safeguards arrangement, and it gives the signatory an additional 18 months to conclude those negotiations. We need the bilateral assurances to cover the interim and we should do our best to get them."
Regarding the matter of the Jericho missiles, the paper concedes that "if the Israelis show a disposition to meet us on the nuclear issue but are adamant on the Jericho missiles, we can drop back to a position of insisting on non-deployment of missiles and an undertaking by the Israelis to keep any further production secret," but also wished "to question the purpose of Israel developing and deploying a nuclear weapons delivery system—the 'Jericho' missile—which can only cast doubt on its nuclear assurances." The paper claims that Israel had 12 surface-to-surface missiles, and could have a total of 24-30 by the end of 1970.
The document further stipulates that talks with Israel should occur in Washington. The talks were conducted between Ambassador Rabin on the Israeli side, and Under Secretary of State Elliot Richardson and Deputy Secretary of Defense David Packard.
The documents also show that the Americans decided to avoid explicitly conditioning delivery of F-4 planes on the nuclear issue during their first meeting with Rabin. They assumed Rabin's tactic would be "to test how serious we are by refusing initially to go beyond the line Israel has taken with us in past meetings… If he is unresponsive in this fashion, the Under Secretaries would make clear their dissatisfaction and ask Rabin to call again in five or six days time to continue the dialogue. "
The government expected Prime Minister Golda Meir to meet President Nixon, but the Security Council expressed concern that she would argue that failing to provide the F-4 planes would hurt Labor's chance to win the election.
A July 19, 1969 memo from Kissinger to Nixon noted that "when the Israelis signed the contract buying the Phantom aircraft last November, they committed themselves 'not to be the first to introduce nuclear weapons into the Near East.' But it was plain from the discussion that they interpreted that to mean they could possess nuclear weapons as long as they did not test, deploy, or make them public."
Kissinger argued that public knowledge of Israeli nuclear weapons "is almost as dangerous as possession itself. This is what might spark a Soviet nuclear guarantee for the Arabs, tighten the Soviet hold on the Arabs and increase the danger of our involvement… What this means is that, while we might ideally like to halt actual Israeli possession, what we really want at a minimum may be just to keep Israeli possession from becoming an established international fact."
The national security advisor added that the goal was to get Israel to sign the NPT, "not because signing will make any difference in Israel’s actual nuclear program because Israel could produce warheads clandestinely," but to give the US a "publicly feasible issue to raise with the Israeli government—a way of opening the discussion. It would also publicly commit Israel not to acquire nuclear weapons."
The memo also stated that the Defense Department believed the US "could live with the existence of Israeli nuclear weapons provided they were not deployed" and thought that the F-4 planes should be used as leverage to convince Israel to cease producing missiles.
Israel and the Arabs
The committee's position paper states that US objectives were to convince Israel to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) "at an early date (by the end of this year) and ratify it soon thereafter" as well as to assure in writing that it would not the first to introduce nuclear weapons in the region and assure in writing that it will stop production of Jericho missiles "or any other nuclear-capable strategic missile".
The paper also notes that the agreement does not enter into force immediately because the procedure of obtaining signatures takes from six months to a year and "even after the Treaty is in force it gives a signatory six months to enter negotiations with the IAEA for a safeguards arrangement, and it gives the signatory an additional 18 months to conclude those negotiations. We need the bilateral assurances to cover the interim and we should do our best to get them."
Regarding the matter of the Jericho missiles, the paper concedes that "if the Israelis show a disposition to meet us on the nuclear issue but are adamant on the Jericho missiles, we can drop back to a position of insisting on non-deployment of missiles and an undertaking by the Israelis to keep any further production secret," but also wished "to question the purpose of Israel developing and deploying a nuclear weapons delivery system—the 'Jericho' missile—which can only cast doubt on its nuclear assurances." The paper claims that Israel had 12 surface-to-surface missiles, and could have a total of 24-30 by the end of 1970.
The document further stipulates that talks with Israel should occur in Washington. The talks were conducted between Ambassador Rabin on the Israeli side, and Under Secretary of State Elliot Richardson and Deputy Secretary of Defense David Packard.
The documents also show that the Americans decided to avoid explicitly conditioning delivery of F-4 planes on the nuclear issue during their first meeting with Rabin. They assumed Rabin's tactic would be "to test how serious we are by refusing initially to go beyond the line Israel has taken with us in past meetings… If he is unresponsive in this fashion, the Under Secretaries would make clear their dissatisfaction and ask Rabin to call again in five or six days time to continue the dialogue. "
The government expected Prime Minister Golda Meir to meet President Nixon, but the Security Council expressed concern that she would argue that failing to provide the F-4 planes would hurt Labor's chance to win the election.
A July 19, 1969 memo from Kissinger to Nixon noted that "when the Israelis signed the contract buying the Phantom aircraft last November, they committed themselves 'not to be the first to introduce nuclear weapons into the Near East.' But it was plain from the discussion that they interpreted that to mean they could possess nuclear weapons as long as they did not test, deploy, or make them public."
Kissinger argued that public knowledge of Israeli nuclear weapons "is almost as dangerous as possession itself. This is what might spark a Soviet nuclear guarantee for the Arabs, tighten the Soviet hold on the Arabs and increase the danger of our involvement… What this means is that, while we might ideally like to halt actual Israeli possession, what we really want at a minimum may be just to keep Israeli possession from becoming an established international fact."
The national security advisor added that the goal was to get Israel to sign the NPT, "not because signing will make any difference in Israel’s actual nuclear program because Israel could produce warheads clandestinely," but to give the US a "publicly feasible issue to raise with the Israeli government—a way of opening the discussion. It would also publicly commit Israel not to acquire nuclear weapons."
The memo also stated that the Defense Department believed the US "could live with the existence of Israeli nuclear weapons provided they were not deployed" and thought that the F-4 planes should be used as leverage to convince Israel to cease producing missiles.
Israel and the Arabs
Richard Nixon
Earlier, on February 1, 1969, President Nixon convened the NSC's senior staff, Secretary of State William Rogers, Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Earle Wheeler, CIA Director Richard Helms, and others for a meeting on the Arab-Israeli conflict in general. The minutes of this meeting show how US policy took shape as officials considered their options in a time when a proxy war in the Middle East between the US and the USSR could turn into a much larger conflagration.
Helms opened the meeting by providing an overview of Arab-Israeli relations, Arab nationalism, and the terror organizations that were "adamantly opposed any solution other than the destruction of Israel. Their influence makes it questionable whether any Arab government could reach settlement with Israel. Current significance is that terrorism brings on Israeli reprisals, which raise likelihood of broader conflict," said the CIA director.
Helms described Arab attitudes towards the US as increasingly hostile, believing the superpower to be backing Israel. While the US image was good in Israel, said Helms, it had its own brand of reservation about our inability to see the Arabs through Israeli eyes."
Related: JFK told Israel: 'If you want U.S. aid, shut down your nuclear bomb factory'
Earlier, on February 1, 1969, President Nixon convened the NSC's senior staff, Secretary of State William Rogers, Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Earle Wheeler, CIA Director Richard Helms, and others for a meeting on the Arab-Israeli conflict in general. The minutes of this meeting show how US policy took shape as officials considered their options in a time when a proxy war in the Middle East between the US and the USSR could turn into a much larger conflagration.
Helms opened the meeting by providing an overview of Arab-Israeli relations, Arab nationalism, and the terror organizations that were "adamantly opposed any solution other than the destruction of Israel. Their influence makes it questionable whether any Arab government could reach settlement with Israel. Current significance is that terrorism brings on Israeli reprisals, which raise likelihood of broader conflict," said the CIA director.
Helms described Arab attitudes towards the US as increasingly hostile, believing the superpower to be backing Israel. While the US image was good in Israel, said Helms, it had its own brand of reservation about our inability to see the Arabs through Israeli eyes."
Related: JFK told Israel: 'If you want U.S. aid, shut down your nuclear bomb factory'
4 aug 2015
Israeli Dimona nuclear research facility site
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Monday that Israel "has begun a diplomatic campaign to thwart a resolution to subject its nuclear facilities to international supervision."
The newspaper added that the draft resolution, which was submitted at International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is supported by Egypt, Jordan and other Arab and Islamic countries.
The newspaper noted that a senior official in the Israeli Foreign Ministry expressed his fears that the deal with Iran would make it difficult for Israel to deal with such a demand.
The draft resolution seeks to force Israel to open its nuclear facilities to international observers. It also calls for a meeting of the international committee specialised in making the Middle East a nuclear-free zone.
Haaretz added that such a resolution, if passed, would not be binding under the UN Security Council, but it would cause significant political damage to Israel, bring international attention to Israel's nuclear facilities and prompt the IAEA to take further steps against Israel.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Monday that Israel "has begun a diplomatic campaign to thwart a resolution to subject its nuclear facilities to international supervision."
The newspaper added that the draft resolution, which was submitted at International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is supported by Egypt, Jordan and other Arab and Islamic countries.
The newspaper noted that a senior official in the Israeli Foreign Ministry expressed his fears that the deal with Iran would make it difficult for Israel to deal with such a demand.
The draft resolution seeks to force Israel to open its nuclear facilities to international observers. It also calls for a meeting of the international committee specialised in making the Middle East a nuclear-free zone.
Haaretz added that such a resolution, if passed, would not be binding under the UN Security Council, but it would cause significant political damage to Israel, bring international attention to Israel's nuclear facilities and prompt the IAEA to take further steps against Israel.
Former prisoner for nuclear espionage asks High Court for permission to visit wife's family abroad.
Nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu has requested permission to travel abroad and visit his wife's family, claiming it was never proven that he damaged national security - one of the main reasons the government imposed a travel ban on Vanunu.
The former prisoner of 18 years, including 12 in solitary confinement, also cited that he is banned from speaking about his work at the Negev Nuclear Research Center, under the threat of rearrest.
The High Court of Justice will consider the petition submitted by Vanunu next month, which demands removal of injunctions put in place as soon as he was released from jail in 2004. Vanunu was convicted of treason and espionage in 1988 after speaking to British media about Israel's secretive nuclear activities. Mossad agents were only able to arrest Vanunu after luring him to Rome.
In addition to his travel confinements abroad, Vanunu was forbidden from living his living quarters without informing authorities 48 hours before hand. He was also restricted from engaging on online chats or having any contact with foreign nationals - a restriction that was later eased to allow one-time conversations in public places that could not exceed 30 minutes in length.
Vanunu's lawyer claims that the travel restrictions placed on his client harm his basic human rights. Vanunu was also recently married to his girlfriend and says that the travel ban harms his familial relations.
Nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu has requested permission to travel abroad and visit his wife's family, claiming it was never proven that he damaged national security - one of the main reasons the government imposed a travel ban on Vanunu.
The former prisoner of 18 years, including 12 in solitary confinement, also cited that he is banned from speaking about his work at the Negev Nuclear Research Center, under the threat of rearrest.
The High Court of Justice will consider the petition submitted by Vanunu next month, which demands removal of injunctions put in place as soon as he was released from jail in 2004. Vanunu was convicted of treason and espionage in 1988 after speaking to British media about Israel's secretive nuclear activities. Mossad agents were only able to arrest Vanunu after luring him to Rome.
In addition to his travel confinements abroad, Vanunu was forbidden from living his living quarters without informing authorities 48 hours before hand. He was also restricted from engaging on online chats or having any contact with foreign nationals - a restriction that was later eased to allow one-time conversations in public places that could not exceed 30 minutes in length.
Vanunu's lawyer claims that the travel restrictions placed on his client harm his basic human rights. Vanunu was also recently married to his girlfriend and says that the travel ban harms his familial relations.