"I'm sick and tired of hearing things from uptight short sided narrow minded hypocrites all I want is the truth, just give me some truth. I've had enough of reading things by neurotic psychotic pigheaded politicians all I want is the truth, just give me some truth."-John Lennon
John Lennon would have celebrated his 70th birthday on 9 October 2010.
During my first of seven trips to Israel Palestine, in June 2005, Mordechai Vanunu told me:
"I began my studies at Tel Aviv University when I was twenty-one. I studied physics until the army called me up for thirty days' reserve service. When I returned to school, I couldn't catch up. I worked in a bakery at night and attended class all day. This was the first time I met Palestinians as human beings. I began attending political demonstrations inside the university. It was all about equal human rights and respecting all others. By the time I was twenty-three, I began working at the Dimona. It was suppose to be a textile plant, but I was hired for the control room. At the time, I had no idea what it was in control of.
"I
really didn't even want the job; I tried to get them not to hire me. On
the application, they asked if I knew any Palestinians. As I had an
acquaintance, I said yes, hoping it would disqualify me from
employment. They accepted me anyway. I watched them as closely as they
watched me. I began studying philosophy and geography, and read
literature."
I asked Vanunu, "Did you listen to music? Did you know the Beatles and Bob Dylan?"
"Sure, but I prefer classical. And I began wondering more about life and politics. I decided to become a hermit and vegetarian. I lived alone, but never was lonely. It wasn't ever fun, but I enjoy the quiet. I was never sad, but never happy, either. After a year, I got bored with the routine job at the Dimona and wanted to leave. I went to Beersheba University and studied economics for a year. I became involved in university politics and in student unions. I was all about protecting Palestinian students' rights. I sided with Palestinians more and more, and was invited to help establish a group of Palestinian and Jewish students for peace and justice. This was also the time I found out that it was dangerous for me to speak the truth. I was being watched, but I continued to express myself anyway. After six months, I got called in by security at the Dimona, and they asked me, 'Can you imagine why you are here?'
"I answered, 'My university activity?' They then questioned me about all my contacts and told me to stop, because I was in danger. I told them I would try, but I knew I would continue on, because it was the right cause and I would not hide my thoughts.
"After five months, they called me in again and demanded that I stop my activities. A few months later, the chief security man took me to the Tel Aviv Secret Room, where the Israeli army security officer grilled me. They told me I could get fifteen years in prison if I didn't stop my university activities. I left the meeting and walked to a Palestinian bookstore, knowing they were watching me. That night, I wrote in my diary, "1/85. I should have finished this job at Dimona before now. Time to quit.'"
In 2005, Mordechai Vanunu also told me about the last time he set foot inside of Israel's clandestine weapons of mass destruction facility, "At that time there were more than 200 atomic weapons, in 1986, and they started to produce the most horrible of all weapons; thermonuclear, in lying and in cheating the world and all of its citizens. So I said to myself it is impossible to keep these secrets. I must report about them and to try and stop it."
On 4 October 2010, it was officially announced that Mordechai Vanunu was awarded the Carl-von-Ossietzky-Medal and the international community has risen up to demand that he be in Berlin by 12 December 2010, to receive it at 11AM at the Award Ceremony.
On 5 October 2010, Vanunu wrote:
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