Israel: British journalist arrested Statement by Amnesty International's Donatella Rovera on the arrest in Jerusalem of Peter Hounam, the British journalist who published details in the Sunday Times of Israel's secret nuclear programme in 1986 based on information he received from Mordechai Vanunu:
"At 9:30 last night, I was sitting in the garden of the Jerusalem Hotel with a colleague. Peter Hounam was brought into the garden by five plain-clothes members of the security forces or police. As they were going to take him into the hotel, he broke away from them and ran over to my table. He looked very concerned and just had the time to tell me: 'I am being arrested, please tell the Sunday Times, please let people know.'" "The five members of the security forces grabbed him and immediately pulled him away. He didn't have the chance to say anything else." "He was taken upstairs to his room and, after 20 minutes, they brought him back down. They were carrying his bags, they took him outside and there was one police vehicle with security forces in uniform and two plain white cars. Plain-clothes officers put him in one plain car and the three cars drove off." The Israeli authorities have apparently confirmed to the British Foreign Office that they are detaining a British national. Donatella Rovera is currently in Israel on a research mission for Amnesty International, collecting information and testimony on alleged human rights violations. ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS For immediate release May 27 2004 NOW ISRAELIS PUNISH VANUNU JOURNALIST THE NUJ has condemned the Israeli authorities for the arrest of the British journalist who interviewed nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu. The union says Peter Hounam must be released and allowed to continue his work in Israel. The former award-winning former Sunday Times investigative reporter was held last night (Wednesday). Security officials have given no information about the arrest. Peter Hounam wrote the Sunday Times story in which Mordechai Vanunu, a former technician at the Dimona nuclear plant at Dimona, gave details of Israel's nuclear weapons programme. Mordechai Vanunu was released last month after serving an 18-year prison sentence for espionage and treason. Peter Hounam was one of many overseas supporters in Israel to greet him on his release. Under conditions imposed on Mordechai Vanunu he is not allowed to leave the country or to have any contact with foreigners. NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear has protested to the Israeli Ambassador in London, Dr Zvi Shtauber, demanding an explanation and Peter Hounam's immediate release. Jeremy Dear said: "The whole episode of Mordechai Vanunu has been shameful for the Israeli government. First they seize him illegally and lock him up for 18 years, most of it in solitary confinement. He has done his time but they are still punishing him. "Now they are punishing the reporter to whom he gave the story. We must presume Peter Hounam has been arrested for allegedly attempting to be in contact with a source that gave him a major story, whom he has been unable to talk to for 18 years. "Peter Hounam was and is just doing his job, which is to bring important information to the public's attention. He must be released at once - and not deported from Israel. If he wishes to talk to Mordechai Vanunu he must be allowed to do so." Contact Jeremy Dear 07855 384 287
Tim Gopsill 0207 843 3701 | 
