Briefing for the Public Petitions Committee

Petition Number: PE1122

Main Petitioner: Vanesa Fuertes on behalf of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Subject: Calls on the Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to make representations to the UK Government to ask the Israeli Government to lift all restrictions on Mordechai Vanunu and allow him freedom to travel.

Background

Mordechai Vanunu, a former Israeli nuclear technician, was jailed in Israel in 1986 after being convicted of treason over his disclosures about Israel’s nuclear weapons programme to the Sunday Times newspaper. Mr Vanunu was jailed for 18 years, 12 of which were spent in solitary confinement. He was released from Shikma prison in Askhelon, Israel on 21 April 2004, with restrictions placed on him, including a ban on travel outside the country and discussing nuclear secrets. He is also barred from foreign embassies and allowed contact with foreigners only by permission. Media interviews are not permitted. He was re-arrested briefly in November 2004 on suspicion of passing on classified information, and was also prevented from leaving Jerusalem to visit Bethlehem for Christmas.

In December 2004, the University of Glasgow elected Mr Vanunu rector of the University, with students saying they voted for him to show their support for human rights and opposition to nuclear weapons. In 2007 Mr Vanunu was sentenced to six months imprisonment for speaking to foreigners and travelling to Bethlehem. In January 2008 Mr Vanunu was re-sentenced to six months of community service and this sentence is currently subject to an appeal.

Scottish Government Action

Representations by the UK Government to the Israeli Government are a reserved matter. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office website outlines the UK Government position with regard to Mordechai Vanunu as follows:

“The UK believes that the restrictions placed on Mr Vanunu are unnecessarily harsh and punitive.

We are aware that Mr Vanunu was indicted on 17 March 2004 for violating the terms of his release from prison, which has resulted in a further year's extension of the restrictions previously imposed on him. We recognise that Israel has a right to protect its national security but we are concerned that the restrictions may be excessive. We will continue to follow his case closely.

Baroness Symons, who was then the Minister responsible for our relations with the Middle East, initially raised our concerns about the restrictions imposed upon Mr Vanunu with the Israeli Charge following his release in April 2004, as did our Ambassador in Tel Aviv with the Israeli Government. We have since raised the issue with the Israeli government on numerous occasions.

Israel has the right to protect its security, and the restrictions on Mr Vanunu are in accordance with Israeli law. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Israel is a party state, includes the right to freedom of expression and the right to leave one's own country. According to the terms of the ICCPR both of these rights can be restricted 'for the protection of national security' so long as they are provided by law and are 'necessary'. However, restrictions cannot be so severe that they amount to a denial of the right itself”. http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c =Page&cid=1115148861051

The Scottish Government appears not to have taken a position on this issue.

Scottish Parliament Action

During the current session of Parliament one Motion has been lodged regarding Mordechai Vanunu as follows:

S3M-00418 Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Independent): Mordechai Vanunu— That the Parliament notes that Mordechai Vanunu completed 18 years in prison in Israel in 2004 following his revelations about Israel’s nuclear weapons programme; further notes that since 2004 he has been subject to severe restrictions, including a ban on overseas travel; is astonished that he has been sentenced to a new term of six months in prison for speaking to foreign nationals, and calls on the government to ask the Israeli Government to lift all restrictions on Mordechai Vanunu and allow him the freedom to travel.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Roseanna Cunningham, Elaine Smith, Bill Kidd, Dr Elaine Murray, Bob Doris, Bashir Ahmad, Patrick Harvie, Sandra White, Pauline McNeill, , , Hugh O'Donnell, Jim Tolson, Alex Neil, Des McNulty, Dr Bill Wilson, Robin Harper, Brian Adam, Mike Pringle, Jamie Stone, , Gil Paterson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dr Ian McKee, , Sarah Boyack, John Scott, , , Robert Brown, Jim Hume, Joe FitzPatrick, James Kelly, Angela Constance, Christine Grahame, Aileen Campbell, Liam McArthur, Alasdair Morgan, , Tavish Scott, Dave Thompson, Rob Gibson, Jackie Baillie, Margaret Smith, Michael Matheson, Mr Frank McAveety, Dr Christopher Harvie, John Farquhar Munro, Keith Brown, , Willie Coffey, Dr Alasdair Allan, Stuart McMillan, Nigel Don, Michael

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McMahon, David Stewart, Richard Baker, Ross Finnie, , Paul Martin, , Rhoda Grant

Lodged on Wednesday, September 05, 2007; Not Current as of Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Stephen Herbert Senior Research Specialist 26 February 2008

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