BBC journalist arrested by Israeli police

[Enkidu Warrior]

Israeli police have arrested a British journalist who interviewed nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu in 1986.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3752043.stm

We had a long debate about Mordechai Vanunu a while ago, opinions were split, but now they've arrested the journalist who got the story in the first place, 18 years after it took place. Maybe I'm just emotional after watching an Israeli sniper shoot a British journalist dead on TV last night but I think this is terrible. There surely can't be a case against him, this just sounds like revenge.

Thumbs down Israel.

Your thoughts?

 

[mazzz]

If they have nothing to hid (WMD) then they should release him

 

[HamaticBabylon]

If they have nothing to hid (WMD) then they should release him

Israel has about 1000 nukes!

 

[phoenix_night]

This is worrying...

 

[Mikoyan]

Israel has about 1000 nukes!

Reports say around 200...

Anyway, this is indeed worrying. It looks like nothing but revenge, as said.

 

[LesCanadiens]

Are Israel's nukes long range (ICBM) or just stand off aircraft launched missiles?

 

[stormbind]

Down with Isreal!!
Moderator Action: warned, bashing
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[Mikoyan]

Are Israel's nukes long range (ICBM) or just stand off aircraft launched missiles?

Main arsenal consists of medium-range missiles, the "Jericho" series. They also have sub-launched variants, and could convert a space launch rocket, "Shavit", into an ICBM with acceptable range. Gravity bombs carried by A-4's and F-4's may still be around, too.

 

[HamaticBabylon]

Down with Isreal!!

You sound like an arab Muslim!

 

[The Yankee]

Do we know why Israel arrested the reporter? Maybe there's a valid reason. No need to flame Israel just yet.

 

[HamaticBabylon]

Reports say around 200....

You know what they have to the other 800 ?

 

[Immortal]

HB: That sentence didn't make any sense...

 

[mazzz]

I dont see the world holding Israel accountable for ignoring UN resolutions

 

[Enkidu Warrior]

Do we know why Israel arrested the reporter? Maybe there's a valid reason. No need to flame Israel just yet.

True, I suppose. There is a gagging order preventing any details from coming out. I for one can't help but jump to conclusions, much as I would usually try not to.

 

[stormbind]

You sound like an arab Muslim!

I am Christian.

Granted, not a very good one, but I was raised Church of England and though I never visit their establishments, and am most likely uneducated in their preferred topics of interest, I am without doubt not a Jew... or a Muslim.

Down with friggin' Isreal! That nation causes more trouble than it's worth. I say we relocate the Jewish state, out of harms way, where they can cause no trouble, to a new land in the centre of the undeveloped portions of the USA - Can you give me a solid, logical, or sound reason why that would be bad?

Prevention is better than cure. USA has space, Pallestine doesn't

 

[The Yankee]

True, I suppose. There is a gagging order preventing any details from coming out. I for one can't help but jump to conclusions, much as I would usually try not to.

Sorry, I'm not sure I can see a revenge 18 years after the fact (that is when the reporter did his things, right?). So I have to hold judgment.

 

[Enkidu Warrior]

Sorry, I'm not sure I can see a revenge 18 years after the fact (that is when the reporter did his things, right?). So I have to hold judgment.

Maybe the journalist had not visited Israel since the interview 18 years ago. The interview took place in London IIRC, and Vanunu was only arrested after he was spectacularly kidnapped in Rome. Given how Vanunu was treated I would not be in a hurry to visit Israel. You are right of course, we should wait for more details, but given that Israel are refusing to divulge any at the moment I can't help but worry.

 

[stormbind]

Maybe I'm just emotional after watching an Israeli sniper shoot a British journalist dead on TV last night but I think this is terrible.

I know nothing of this, except what you posted. Is there a source?

 

[Enkidu Warrior]

I know nothing of this, except what you posted. Is there a source?

I was referring to a documentary on Channel 4 last night ("Death in Gaza"). It was filmed a year ago, but one of the journalists was shot and killed while filming it. They were following the lives of several children in the Rafah refugee camp. During the night, while filming an Israeli raid, the journalist was shot by an Israeli sniper, while he and his colleagues were screaming at the top of their voices "can you hear us, we're British journalists". All of the children in the film are now homeless due to the destruction of homes in the Rafah camp.

EDIT: link - http://www.channel4.com/news/2004/special_reports/death_in_gaza.html

 

[Sanaz]

Down with friggin' Isreal! That nation causes more trouble than it's worth. I say we relocate the Jewish state, out of harms way, where they can cause no trouble, to a new land in the centre of the undeveloped portions of the USA - Can you give me a solid, logical, or sound reason why that would be bad?

Prevention is better than cure. USA has space, Pallestine doesn't

Separation of religion and state. They already have a home. Etc.

On topic, arrest is not the sme as conviction. They have laws in israel which they follow, and if the journalist made a deal and went back on it, after working in their defense industry, he may be a true, immediate threat to their national security and needs to be detained for questioning. But I know nothing of the history here, just what I read in that article.