New photos from the Levant by Skip Schiel

September - October, 2004

Who is he and how did I meet him?

He is the courageous Israeli man who, while working as a technician in Israel's nuclear weapons plant, Dimona, in the 1970s, photographed and wrote about the secret and denied (to this day) program. For this revelation he was imprisoned for 18 years, mostly in solitary confinement. Quickly becoming one of the best known political prisoners, an international campaign supported him. He served his sentence, was released in April 2004, and accepted sanctuary at the guest house operated by the Anglican Church.

That's a thumbnail of who the man is and why he is to be upheld and learned from. His singular act of courage filled in a portion of the concealed truth of the building of the Jewish state. What do we know that might reveal the concealed truth of the building of the American Empire?

Now, how did I meet him?

Wishing to reside one night in Jerusalem before assuming my duties at Birzeit University, I chose St George's Guest House--comfortable, affordable, in the Palestinian section of the city, a stone's throw from the Old City, and part of where our delegation stayed (St. George's College) in November 2003. Plus: Mordechai Vanunu lived there.

First priority, after settling myself, was finding this man. Expecting he was in seclusion and might not wish visitors, I gingerly asked Jeries at the reception desk--might it be possible to meet Mr. Vanunu?

--Oh sure, there he is, sitting in the court yard. Just go up and introduce yourself.

--Mr. Vanunu, I'm Skip Schiel from the States, here for 5 months on various photographic projects. I recently heard you interviewed by Amy Goodman on Democracy Now, I've long been following your case, I admire what you've done. Any chance to talk further with you, maybe when you're done with this conversation? (He was talking with a young man.)

--Sit down, let's talk.

--Photographs Ok?

--Of course.

And the portrait session happened. You have the results. Then we chatted.

--You said to Amy that you were speaking out thru international media because of your strong belief in the right to free speech. And that the Israeli government has made no firm promises about eventually granting you the freedom you seek to leave the country. I suspected there might be a further motive, building a constituency in the States for supporting your move there.

--It is so.

--Any repercussions yet from that interview?

--None.

--Any other US media talk with you?

--None, but plenty of media from other regions have interviewed me. Here, meet this fellow, a correspondent with a Japanese newspaper. (He'd joined us.)

--Why are you so despised by Israelis, receive so many death threats?

--It's not only because of blowing the whistle on the nuclear weapons industry and that I support the Palestinian struggle, the end of the occupation, but because I've renounced Judaism, converted to Christianity. They consider me an apostate.

--Why select Christianity and not some other religion, such as Islam, since you regard yourself as Palestinian, and have applied for travel documents as a Palestinian?

--Judaism and Islam are primitive religions, for example look at how they treat women.

(I did not mention some more repulsive sides of Christianity, such as the Crusades.)

And on, all the while noticing how vibrant he appeared, how tanned and strong, his voice clear, his thinking precise, his manner affable. And he is so handsome. Really compelling. As Napoleon is rumored to have said, quoting Seneca--what doesn't kill me will strengthen me.

Mordechai Vanunu has been annealed by the fiery crucible of imprisonment. He has emerged a model for our times.

For the interview with Amy Goodman-- http://www.counterpunch.org/goodman08182004.html