Israeli nuclear whistleblower detained
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-25 09:10

Israeli police detained nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu at a checkpoint as he tried to travel to the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Friday, preventing him from attending midnight Mass in the traditional birthplace of Christ, a police spokesman said.

Vanunu, a Jewish convert to Christianity, was released from an Israeli prison in April after completing an 18-year sentence for revealing secrets of Israel's nuclear program to the Sunday Times newspaper in London.

An Israeli policeman escorts detained nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu, right, as they arrive at a police station in Jerusalem late Friday Dec. 24, 2004. Vanunu was arrested at a checkpoint as he tried to travel to the West Bank town of Bethlehem to attend midnight Mass in the traditional birthplace of Christ, a police spokesman said. [AP]

Under the terms of his release, the former technician at the Israeli nuclear facility in the Negev desert town of Dimona was barred from leaving Israeli territory and contacting foreigners.

Police spokesman Gil Kleiman said Vanunu was stopped at a checkpoint between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, which is four miles away.

Kleiman said Vanunu was in a Volkswagen van emblazoned with the letters "TV" — commonly used to identify press vehicles — and had a Santa Claus hat in his possession.

"He said he wanted to pray at the Church of the Nativity on Christmas Eve, even though he knew it was illegal for him to leave Israel," Kleiman said. "He was detained by officers then moved to a police station for further questioning." He said Vanunu remained in policy custody late Friday.

Since his release from prison in April, Vanunu has been living at a Jerusalem Church compound.

Last month he was briefly detained by police on suspicion of revealing classified information before being freed. Vanunu denied those charges, saying he has no more secrets to disclose.

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