We began this morning walking through the market, the three of us cutting through the strong perfume of zatar spices and fruits. The slow walk soon brought us to the St. Georges Cathedral, after passing the American and British Consulates and the Jerusalem YMCA. We entered the Cathedral's iron gates in the hopes of finding a dear friend, activist, and political prisoner, Mordechai Vanunu.
A little history- In 1986, Vanunu exposed Israel's nuclear program and weaponry to the world, via the British press. Israeli secret service promptly abducted the engineer in Rome and sent him back to Israel. There he was put through a farce of a trial, condemned as a traitor to the state, and thrown into solitary confinement for 18 years. Finally released a couple years ago, Israel has now stripped him of him citizenship and will not allow any country to grant him political asylum. He is forbidden to speak with foreigners, though does so out of defiance to a state that has tried everything to rob him of his dignity and humanity- yet has failed. Since his release from Ashkelon Prison, he has sought sanctuary at the St. Georges Cathedral.
I'll try to locate him tomorrow. My personal connection to him? Not nearly as close as my sibling's- Luca, my 13 year old brother, is his blood-nephew.
Hamdalah,
C
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1 comment:
wow man, wow.
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