Vanunu guilty on media contacts

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Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu was convicted of illicit contacts with foreign media.

The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court on Monday found that Vanunu, who finished an 18-year prison sentence for treason in 2004, violated the terms of his release by giving unauthorized interviews to the foreign press. Sentencing is expected next month.

The verdict came days after Vanunu was informed that a government ban on him leaving Israel has been extended by another year.

Security officials say Vanunu, who tore the cover off much of Israel’s nuclear secrecy by discussing his work at the Dimona reactor with a British newspaper in 1986, has more classified information that he could divulge if he goes abroad. Vanunu denies it.

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