It is with tremendous grief and sadness that I inform you that
the Israeli special police force entered St George's Cathedral
Close today without permission and took Mordechai Vanunu into custody.

Approximately thirty officers, many with guns, entered the cathedral
gardens and interrupted breakfast in the Pilgrim Guest House. It was a traumatic event that terrorized many of our tourists, pilgrims, and staff.

In the 100 years of the cathedral's history, such an event has never
taken place.

Immediately I related how they have come into a sacred place, and that their guns were not welcome. The officers with guns withdrew to outside of the Cathedral Close; however, it came to my attention later, that at least one of the officers still carried a concealed weapon.

This was after I had been reassured that all weapons had been
removed from the church grounds. It is inconceivable why such force is mandated for procedures like today's.

Mordechai was calm during the search, questioning the need for the interrogation, and they searched his room in his and my presence. They took his papers, laptop, and other possessions into custody.

I called his lawyer, and he will meet Mordechai in Petah Tiqva.

This type of entry into a sacred space must not be tolerated by the
churches throughout the world, and it must not be accepted by those who respect the rights and dignity of every person. We ask the
government of Israel to stop such actions as these, and we call for the respect of sacred places in the Land of the Holy One. It is with extreme sadness and disappointment that I must write this letter, and please continue to pray for us in these difficult times.

Peace of God to all of you,

The Rt Revd Riah Abu El-Assal
Bishop in Jerusalem

cc:

His Excellency, President Moshe Katsav
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon

THE VANUNU STORY

Mordechai Vanunu, a former Israeli nuclear technician, completed his entire 18-year sentence in Israel's Ashkelon Prison on April 21, 2004, for blowing the whistle on his government's secret nuclear weapons program. Captured by Israeli agents on September 30, 1986, he spent more than 11 1/2 years in solitary confinement.

One of 11 children of Moroccan Jewish parents who emigrated to Israel in 1963, when he was 9 years old, Vanunu served in the Israeli army and then went to work as a young man in the Dimona nuclear "research center" in the Negev Desert near his home at Beersheba. The facility harbored an underground plutonium separation plant operated in strictest secrecy. As the years went by he grew increasingly troubled as he realized his work was part of Israel's nuclear bomb program. In 1985, before leaving Dimona, he took extensive photographs inside the factory in order to document the truth for his fellow citizens and the entire world.

Traveling through Asia with the film in his backpack, Vanunu made his way to Sydney, Australia, where he found companionship in an Anglican church social justice community with whom he shared the story of his nuclear background. In Sydney he also converted to Christianity and was baptized in July, 1986. A British newspaper, the London Sunday Times, learned of his story and sent a reporter to Sydney to check it out. The newspaper then flew Vanunu to England, where his photos and facts were further checked by British scientists familiar with nuclear weapons. Vanunu's story, published October 5, 1986, gave the world its first authoritative confirmation that tiny Israel had become a major nuclear weapons power, with material for as many as 200 nuclear warheads of advanced design.

Israeli agents got early wind of Vanunu's intentions. Even before publication of the story they had lured him from Britain, abducted him in Italy, and dumped his drugged body onto an Israeli cargo vessel bound for Israel. In the following months he was charged with espionage and treason and convicted at a closed-door trial. All legal appeals were exhausted, and he was consistently denied parole or probation.

For the first 11 1/2 years of his imprisonment Vanunu was held in solitary confinement, denied human contact except with his guards, a lawyer, a priest, and the occasional visits of his siblings. This treatment was condemned by Amnesty International as " cruel, inhuman, and degrading."

On March 12, 1998, he was released into the prison population but was still subject to many restrictions - no contact with Palestinian prisoners, no phone use and his mail was censored. During the last 6 years he spent in prison, Vanunu was also able to have occasional visits with Nicholas and Mary Eoloff, the St. Paul, Minnesota couple who adopted him in the fall of 1997.

Despite years of isolation in prison, Vanunu remains steadfast in his belief that what he did was necessary and right. He was released on April 21, 2004, but the Israeli government imposed severe restrictions on his movement and speech, including the condition that he is not allowed to leave the country. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel is representing Vanunu in an appeal of the restrictions to the High Court. While having to remain in Israel, he has been given sanctuary at St. George's Cathedral by the Episcopal Bishop of Jerusalem. Vanunu is very much looking forward to his complete freedom and the end of his long ordeal, and hopes to soon be able to leave Israel and begin a new life.

END

Presiding Bishop responds to Mordechai Vanunu's arrest

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[ENS] Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold has written to Secretary of State Colin Powell and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon citing concerns about today's arrest of Mordechai Vanunu, who served 18 years in prison for leaking details of Israel's nuclear program. According to Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, Israeli special police forcefully entered the grounds of St. George's Cathedral and took Vanunu into custody. Vanunu was reportedly detained on suspicion of disclosing more state secrets.

The full text of the Presiding Bishop's letters follow:

November 11, 2004

The Honorable Colin Powell
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I am writing to you out of grave concern regarding the arrest yesterday on the grounds of the Episcopal Cathedral in Jerusalem of Mordechai Vanunu. Attached is the letter I have just sent to Prime Minister Sharon along with an earlier letter regarding Mr. Vanunu sent in June, as well as a statement from my fellow bishop in Jerusalem, the Right Reverend Riah Abu El-Assal [http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_53840_ENG_HTM.htm].

This violation of sacred space greatly disrespects our Church's presence and mission, and it is particularly disturbing that it occurred at this time when restraint on all sides is so desperately needed in the wake of Yasser Arafat's death. While I am not in a position to comment on the reasons for the arrest, I am told that it was carried out with such a show of force that pilgrims, tourists, and staff were terrorized.

We would greatly appreciate your asking our Embassy to raise our concerns with the Israeli Government.

With prayers and my continuing gratitude for the care and sensitivity with which you represent this great nation of ours, I am,

Yours sincerely,

Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church, USA

November 11, 2004

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
Embassy of Israel
3514 International Drive NW
Washington, DC 20008

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

I write to express my deep dismay at the actions of your government in seizing Mordechai Vanunu, a fellow Anglican, within the precincts of St. George's Episcopal Cathedral in Jerusalem. I am told that, with guns drawn, Israeli Special Forces invaded this sacred space, terrorizing pilgrims, guests, and staff.

Although this is the first time in the history of the Cathedral that such actions have occurred, we have raised concerns about Israeli military entry into our hospitals in the past, and also about delays in visas for missionary personnel. Our letters of concern have not been answered.

I pray that this very sensitive time of transition following the death of Yasser Arafat may open the way toward the peace so desperately yearned for by Israelis and Palestinians alike.

With my prayer that the peace of God may find a home in the land which the children of Abraham call holy, I am,

Yours sincerely,

Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church, USA

June 17, 2004

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
Embassy of Israel
3514 International Drive NW
Washington, DC 20008

Dear Prime Minister Sharon:

I write to you today on behalf of Mordechai Vanunu, a fellow Anglican who has served 18 years in prison for his revelations of Israel's nuclear weapons program. My concern is not to argue the merits of his punishment. I am more concerned from a humanitarian view that, having completed his sentence, he now be assured that the conditions placed upon him by your government after his release be lifted.

The restrictions, forbidding contact with foreigners and not being allowed to leave the state of Israel, clearly go beyond the level of his original sentence and impose a hardship that should have ended upon his release. He has served his full sentence, and justice requires that he be allowed to rebuild his life and health having paid his debt under Israeli law.

I urge you to allow Mr. Vanunu his rightful freedom so that he may plan for his future and seek a new life in the place of his choosing. I thank you very much for your thoughtful consideration of this concern. As you know, Mr. Vanunu's life has been threatened both publicly and privately, and I am also fearful of what reaction might be were these threats to be carried out. At the moment, he is a guest of our Church in Jerusalem, and I ask that you take necessary measures to assure his safety until restrictions on his travel are lifted.

With my prayer that the peace of God may reconcile Israelis and Palestinians and bring healing and a new and hopeful future to all, I am

Yours sincerely,

The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church, USA

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