Picket Marks 13th Anniversary of Vanunu's Kidnapping
by Rayna Moss
Israeli Committee for Mordechai Vanunu

September 30 1999
Several dozen Israelis supporters of Mordechai Vanunu picketed the Ministry of Justice and the District Court in Jerusalem today, marking the 13th anniversary of Vanunu's kidnapping, and calling for his release. Participants distributed leaflets in Hebrew, Arabic and English, in which they also called for the immediate dismantling of all weapons of mass destruction in Israel and to stop Israel's aquisition and development of nuclear-capability weapons ("Chetz" missiles and submarines).

The picket site was in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem, causing participants to explain to Palestinian passers-by why the site had been chosen - the court at which Mordechai was tried in camera, and the ministry which refuses to rectify the injustice against Vanunu. Many passsers-by responded enthusiastically, calling "Good for you!" and "Good for Vanunu!".

The picket was covered by major Israeli radio stations, photojournalists and other reporters.

On October 3 a delegation representing the Israeli Committee for Mordechai Vanunu will meet with Justice Minister Yossi Beilin, to voice the demand that Vanunu be released immediately and be compensated for his suffering following grave human rights abuses.