Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Contact
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Arab Radio Podcast intro
    • Radio Baladi Detroit
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Toggle search form
  • US Senator Bernie Sanders
    Sanders: Trump Welcomes War Criminal to White House American Arabs
  • Al-Haq
    War crimes probe urged against two Israeli snipers who intentionally killed civilian women, children Christian & Muslim
  • CAIR Executive Director and co-founder Nihad Awad
    CAIR Says Israel Turns Gaza into ‘Human Slaughterhouse’ as Killing of Civilians Continues Arab World
  • photo credit author Nehemia Gershuni-Aylho www.NGPhoto.biz and Wikipedia
    Emergency Court Motions to Stop Elbit Drone Parts Shipment via Frankfurt Airport  Activism
  • American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh murdered by Israeli soldiers May 11, 2022
    Documentary names soldier it says killed Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022 American Arabs
  • Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ
    Jordan bans 12 news sites for ‘spreading media poison’ following corruption report Arab World
  • CAIR Logo. Council on American Islamic Relations
    CAIR Condemns MIT for banning Class President from Graduation Ceremony over Anti-Genocide speech Activism
  • ADC creates emergency fund to defend people who are being punished for expressing views on the American-sanction violence by Israel in the Gaza Strip. Photo courtesy of ADC
    ADC Condemns ADL, Rep. Torres’ Defamation of Dr. Lara Sheehi Activism
  • UN Special Committee on Israeli practices in occupied territories warns of a second Nakba  Arab World
  • Arab American community liaison Hassan Nijem, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Basta at the Arab American Heritage Month event hosted by Pappas’s office.
    Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month Activism
  • 04-28-25 Pappas Arab Heritage Month
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders American Arabs
  • Stuffed Grape Leaves. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    A recipe on how to make Stuffed Grape Leaves with lamb, ox tail and rice American Arabs
  • Andrew Boutros, interim US Attorney Northern District of Illinois. Photo courtesy of the US Attorney's Office
    Andrew S. Boutros Takes Oath of Office as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois American Arabs
  • Israeli massacres of Palestinian civilians March 18 2025
    Palestinians demand investigation of Israeli war crimes in Gaza Strip Arab World
  • Illinois Muslim Action Day April 9 2025
    Illinois Muslim Action Day Policies at April 9 Statehouse News Conference American Arabs

Mordechai Vanunu: Nuclear Whistleblower or Tool?

Posted on April 3, 2018April 3, 2018 By Eileen Fleming No Comments on Mordechai Vanunu: Nuclear Whistleblower or Tool?
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Last week Adam Raz wrote for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, “Thirty years after the espionage case that rocked Israel and exposed its nuclear secrets, it can be asked whether Mordechai Vanunu is actually tool in the hands of vested interests.”

The top three definitions of “tool” at the Urban Dictionary are: A guy with a hugely over-inflated ego, Someone whose ego FAR exceeds his talent, intelligence, and likability, or Someone who others normally refer to as a prick, dick or schmuck.

By Eileen Fleming

Last week Adam Raz wrote for Israeli newspaper Haaretz: “Did Israel blow up the Vanunu nuclear whistleblower affair to boost its deterrence?”

The Sunday Times was very close to shelving the [Vanunu] investigative report, and that it was only the actions of some Israelis, whether by intent or not, that persuaded the paper to go ahead. In fact, one can even say that, if the paper had not published its investigation, there would have been no “Vanunu affair.”

Journalists in Australia had asked the Israeli Embassy there for information about the “eccentric” guy who was claiming to have worked at Israel’s nuclear reactor. And when Vanunu stepped off the plane in London, weeks before the story was published, he was already under surveillance. Throughout this period, the Israeli secret services did not contact Vanunu, nor did they make any effort to prevent him from giving interviews – which made the Sunday Times suspect that Israel was trying to dupe them…

On September 26, 1986, Prime Minister Shimon Peres summoned the editors of Israel’s newspapers to a “closed” meeting (which was soon reported by the Israeli and world media), at which he told them about the report that was going to appear in the Sunday Times… it was the panic that prevailed among Israeli authorities that persuaded the paper that Vanunu was for real…

To this day, the state insists that Vanunu continues to constitute a risk because of the information in his possession – information to which he had access in his work at the nuclear center more than 30 years ago – that still has not been made public… its definitely possible that the Sunday Times did not publish all the material its staff extracted from Vanunu. 

 

To this day London’s Sunday Times still possess Vanunu’s two rolls of film that he obtained from top-secret locations in the Dimona nuclear facility during a few harrowing hours on the night shift while Vanunu performed his routine duties as a mid-level technician.

As of this publication my two comments at the Haaretz article by Adam Raz remain the only two published and follow here:

1. Before Vanunu went silent he told this American writer

Who became a reporter in 2005 after Vanunu told me: “The French were responsible for the actual building of the Dimona. The Germans gave the money; they were feeling guilty for the Holocaust, and tried to pay their way out. Everything inside was written in French, when I was there the Dimona descended seven floors underground… Did you know that President Kennedy tried to stop Israel from building atomic weapons? In 1963, he forced Prime Minister Ben Guirion to admit the Dimona was not a textile plant, as the sign outside proclaimed, but a nuclear plant. The Prime Minister said, ‘The nuclear reactor is only for peace.’ Kennedy insisted on an open internal inspection. He wrote letters demanding that Ben Guirion open up the Dimona for inspection. When Johnson became president, he made an agreement with Israel that two senators would come every year to inspect. Before the senators would visit, the Israelis would build a wall to block the underground elevators and stairways. From 1963 to ’69, the senators came, but they never knew about the wall that hid the rest of the Dimona from them. Nixon stopped the inspections and agreed to ignore the situation. As a result, Israel increased production. In 1986, there were over two hundred bombs…”- Excerpted from “BEYOND NUCLEAR: Mordechai Vanunu’s FREEDOM of SPEECH TRIAL: And My LIfe as a Muckraker” by Eileen Fleming

2. What Vanunu said about Mossad trap

In 2006, this American asked Vanunu about Cindy/Cheryl Bentov, the Mossad agent who in 1986 lured him to Rome after meeting him in London. Vanunu looked me in the eye and readily replied: “It wasn’t like THAT! When Maxwell’s paper published my photo without ever talking to me and some of the stolen Dimona photos with a very bad story against me, I knew the Mossad was after me. Cindy said she had a sister in Rome and I thought I would be safe there until I could return to London. We went to movies and art galleries, I trusted her. But, as soon as I got into the apartment, I was hit on the head and drugged. When I woke up and they took me for interrogation, they threw the Times article on the table and said, ‘Look, what you did.'”-Excerpted from “Heroes, Muses and The Saga on Mordechai Vanunu” by Eileen Fleming

I now add that everything of importance Vanunu told this American during my eight investigative journeys in Jerusalem since 2005 have been enshrined in articles, books and also stream at YouTube.

Raz rightly concludes: “Many of those who are critical of the restrictions imposed on Vanunu maintain that the state and the current director of security of the defense establishment are trying to extract revenge from him for having exposed publicly Israel’s holy of holies – the secrets of the nuclear reactor at Dimona… in one of the documents published by WikiLeaks: “The [Israeli government] is only contributing to the international cult around Vanunu in its continuing campaign against him. Vanunu’s revelations in 1986 did nothing to set back Israel’s nuclear program, and we have difficulty imagining that anything he says or does today could harm the program or otherwise damage Israeli national security.”

 

In 2015 Vanunu fired me as a supporter, disrespected me as a reporter, slandered then blocked and censored me.

Details can be read HERE

I leave it to the reader to decide if Vanunu is a tool.

Vanunu is growing a cult following at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter which “helps sustain the global discussion of Israel’s nuclear program” as Raz wrote.

This American is shining a spotlight on Vanunu in the screenplay “This American and Israel’s Nuclear Whistle Blower Vanunu” which is currently being read by a few Hollywood Producers.

Synopsis:

TRUE STORY based on research and this American’s 2005 interviews with Mordechai VANUNU, Israel’s nuclear whistle-blower who had been living in east Jerusalem since his release from 18 years behind bars convicted of treason and espionage.

In 1986, VANUNU provided London’s SUNDAY TIMES two rolls of film from Top Secret locations within Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility, which he shot during a few harrowing hours working the night shift as a nuclear technician.

After leaving Israel, VANUNU and his undeveloped film arrive in Australia where he converts to Christianity. After VANUNU shares his story of Israel’s nuclear program with the Anglican congregation, he connects with Peter Hounam, investigative reporter from London’s SUNDAY TIMES.

After nuclear physicists interview VANUNU in London for three days, Mossad lures him to Rome and kidnaps him on 30 September 1986. On October 5, London’s SUNDAY TIMES runs a front-page story with a three page spread including many of the photos VANUNU shot while in Top Secret locations within Israel’s nuclear facility.

In 2005, a serendipitous meeting with VANUNU after THIS AMERICAN’s gut wrenching day in Hebron begins and wraps up this movie based on stories VANUNU shared about his Orthodox Jewish childhood, adolescence, crisis of faith, army service, university activism, obtaining photos from Top Secret locations, leaving Israel, being kidnapped by Mossad in Rome and transported back to Israel for a closed door trial and 18 years behind bars, mostly in solitary confinement. ###

“This American and Israel’s Nuclear Whistle Blower Vanunu”  was adapted from my third book

This April 21 marks fourteen years since Vanunu emerged from 18 years behind bars, mostly in solitary confinement. In this excerpt from “30 Minutes with Vanunu” he addresses Israel’s intentions:

 

 

 

Contact Eileen Fleming

 HERE 

 

newswire info
  • About
  • Latest Posts
Eileen Fleming
Eileen Fleming
Senior Non-Arab Correspondent for TADN at The Arab Daily News
Senior Non-Arab Correspondent for The Arab Daily News
Producer "30 Minutes with Vanunu" who founded WeAreWideAwake.org in response to her first of 8 trips to both sides of The Wall in Palestine Israel.
In 2012, Eileen ran for US House of Representatives District 5, in Fl.
Read her FREE eBooks and more at:http://www.eileenfleming.org/
Eileen Fleming
Latest posts by Eileen Fleming (see all)
  • Vanunu still has more nuclear secrets to spill, Israeli court declares - December 29, 2021
  • 9/11 and a 20th Reflection of That Day - September 5, 2021
  • Mordechai Vanunu: Final Annual Update and this Writers Next Steps - June 19, 2021

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Eileen Fleming, Israel, Middle East, Opinion, Palestine & Jordan Tags:Adam Raz, Haaretz, Israel, Mordechai Vanunu, nuclear weapons, politics, Solitary confinement, true story

Post navigation

Previous Post: Facebook racism targets Palestinians & Arabs
Next Post: Christian Orthodox prepare for Easter celebrations

Related Posts

  • Ambassador Edward M. Gabriel is the former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco
    ATFL and MEI Brief State Department on Lebanon Policy Recommendations American Arabs
  • Why Muslims and Arabs should vote for Trump American Arabs
  • Finding the elusive Moral High Ground in Israel-Gaza War Arab World
  • a-Salam Mosque Aulnay-sous-Bois
    France’s War on Terror and De-radicalization Policy: The Lone Wolf Spectrum Abdennour Toumi
  • Omar Sharif and pro-Israel Hollywood American Arabs
  • Map of Hebron showing location of Palestinian home being taken by Israeli settlers in Israeli occupied Hebron. Photo courtesy of Peace Now
    Peace Now denounces settler takeover of Arab home in Hebron Arab World

More Related Articles

That Upbeat Melody of Muslim-Bashing American Arabs
Arab Radio: Arabs and Hypocrisy in the U.S. Congress American Arabs
Filmmaker Colette Ghunim Traces of Home documentary. Documentary Filmmaker returns to find parents’ ancestral homes in Mexico and Palestine American Arabs
Holy Land Principles focuses on CISCO American Arabs
Comic Strip: IkhrAss goes after Asra Nomani American Arabs
Ma'ale Efrayim an illegal Israeli settlement in the Occupied West Bank of Palestine  (Photo credit: Wikipedia) APN urges Trump block “Legalization” of West Bank Settlements Israel

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Ray Hanania's 4 times a week columns at https://RayHanania.com at Substack

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Photo courtesy of Journalist Abdennour Toumi
    France: Political Compromise vs Political Instability
    August 28, 2024
  • Zakia Restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia
    Arabs eat Middle East food like they are making love
    June 27, 2024
  • Zwar lamb kabob and kufta with white and yellow rice
    Zwar ranked the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland suburbs
    June 8, 2024
  • Pictured: Rahm Emanuel, Afghan activist Salman Aftab who was co-chair of the Iftar dinner, and several non-Arab Muslim leaders. Also pictured is Ald. Joe Moore. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania for Arab News
    Comprehensive look at the failings of former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
    January 18, 2024
  • NEWSWIRE
  • CAIR Logo. Council on American Islamic Relations
    CAIR Condemns MIT for banning Class President from Graduation Ceremony over Anti-Genocide speech
    June 1, 2025
  • Arab American community liaison Hassan Nijem, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Basta at the Arab American Heritage Month event hosted by Pappas’s office.
    Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month
    April 29, 2025
  • 04-28-25 Pappas Arab Heritage Month
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders
    April 27, 2025
  • Mike Ghouse
    Celebration of 500th Interfaith Marriage Ceremony
    February 14, 2025

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • NEWS
  • US Senator Bernie Sanders
    Sanders: Trump Welcomes War Criminal to White House
    July 9, 2025
  • Al-Haq
    War crimes probe urged against two Israeli snipers who intentionally killed civilian women, children
    July 2, 2025
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Faisal Abbas Book Anecdotes
    Book Review: Arab author shares his anecdotes living in the United Kingdom
    October 22, 2024
  • Columnist Ray Hanania at the ADC Convention in Dearborn with the author Susan Abulhawa
    Book Review: Mornings in Jenin bySusan Abulhawa
    September 14, 2024
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Television set and remote. Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
    MBC GROUP unveils MBCNOW, its brand-new groundbreaking entertainment service aggregator
    February 24, 2025
  • ArabCon 2024 Gala Program features Dr. Cornel West, Macklemore, and more
    September 6, 2024
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2025 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme