- In a startling accusation, nuclear whistleblower Mordechai
Vanunu has alleged that Jerusalem was behind the assassination of US President
John F. Kennedy, who was exerting pressure on the then Israeli head of
state to shed light on the Dimona nuclear plant.
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- In defiance of a ban on talking to the media and meeting
with foreigners, Vanunu is said to have made the accusation in an interview
to London-based Al-Hayat newspaper.
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- As per the interview published in newspaper's Arabic
supplement Al-Wassat yesterday, Vanunu said according to "near-certain
indications", Kennedy was assassinated due to "pressure he exerted
on then head of government, David Ben-Gurion, to shed light on Dimona's
nuclear reactor".
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- "We do not know which irresponsible Israeli Prime
Minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle
against neighboring Arab countries," he is quoted to have said, adding,
"What has already been exposed about the weapons Israel is holding
can destroy the region and kill millions."
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- The whistleblower, who was<http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/apr/21vanunu.htm> released in
April after 18 years of imprisonment on charges of treason for divulging
state secrets, also said that the reactor in Dimona, could become a second
"Chernobyl", Israili media reported. He said an earthquake could
cause fissures to the core and that would cause a massive radiation leak
threatening millions.
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- Vanunu warned that Jordan should test the residents along
the border with Israel for exposure to radiation and give them pills just
like the Jewish state decided to do for its citizens.
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- Criticising the visit of head of the Atomic Energy Agency,
Mohammed el-Baradei, to Israel early this month, he said, "He (Baradei)
should have refused to visit Israel (because) he was not allowed to inspect
the nuclear reactor."
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- It was not yet clear how al-Hayat did the interview,
which the publication claimed is the first with Vanunu since his release.
If it turns out that he in fact gave such an interview in violation of
the conditions laid down for his release, severe sanctions might be imposed
on him.
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- An Israeli Justice Ministry statement said "the
statements that Vanunu made will be examined and if it is determined that
he violated the law or his restrictions, then steps against him will be
considered."
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- "The opinions on Vanunu are divided," said
Ra'anan Gissin, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. "Some
say let him speak and it adds to the ambiguity policy, while others say
the more he speaks the more he raises tensions, particularly in the current
atmosphere."
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- Brushing aside the latest allegations, he said that serious
people understood that Vanunu was speaking nonsense and his comments on
JFK were not worthy of a reaction.
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- http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/jul/26vanunu.htm
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