In the current climate, where there's much discussion about whether Iran possesses nuclear weapons, Israel's nuclear program has once again become a topic of interest. All eyes have turned to Mordechai Vanunu, the individual who revealed Israel's nuclear secrets to the world.
According to a report by the UK-based BBC, the long-standing uncertainty surrounding Israel's nuclear weapons program was shattered by a major revelation in 1986.
At that time, the British newspaper Sunday Times announced to the world that Israel possessed advanced nuclear capabilities with a headline stating, "Revealed: Secrets of Israel's nuclear arsenal." The source of the news was Mordechai Vanunu, a technician who worked at the Dimona nuclear facility.
Vanunu's statements strengthened claims that Israel possessed approximately 200 nuclear warheads. Israel, however, has neither confirmed nor denied these claims of possessing nuclear weapons to this day. Nevertheless, there is a widespread belief globally that Israel is the sole nuclear power in the Middle East.
Vanunu, who worked at the clandestine Dimona nuclear research center in the Negev Desert, left his job in 1985 after witnessing Israel developing nuclear weapons. Driven by his discomfort with his country's policies, he embarked on a journey to Asia. Before leaving the facility, he secretly took dozens of photos, carrying with him evidence of nuclear weapons production.
Later, Vanunu traveled from Australia to London and contacted the Sunday Times newspaper. The information he provided and the photos he submitted contained unprecedented details about Israel's nuclear capabilities. It was thus revealed that Dimona was not actually a textile factory, but rather an underground nuclear weapons production facility.
On the day the news was published, Vanunu disappeared. Subsequent information revealed that Mossad abducted Vanunu by luring him to Rome using a "honey trap" method. Deceived by U.S.-born Mossad agent Cheryl Bentov, Vanunu was drugged in Rome and then secretly brought to Israel.
In 1987, Vanunu was tried on charges of treason and espionage and sentenced to 18 years in prison. He spent most of this period in solitary confinement.
Released in 2004, Vanunu is still not permitted to leave Israel. After his release, he was briefly re-imprisoned several times for violating his parole conditions.
While many in Israel consider Vanunu a traitor, a considerable number view him as a "peace hero." Vanunu argued that his action was not treason, but rather aimed at informing the world about a nuclear danger.
In an interview with the BBC, he stated, "I just wanted to tell the world what was really happening. The decision is theirs," expressing no regret.
Israel is one of the few countries not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This status allows the country not to officially clarify its nuclear weapons status. Experts estimate that Israel currently possesses approximately 90 nuclear warheads.
Vanunu's revelations prompted not only Israel but also the international community to re-evaluate their ethical and security responsibilities concerning nuclear weapons. For the first time, clandestine nuclear programs were openly brought to the attention of global public opinion due to this event.
