SP E R R F R I S T 12.12.

2010, 11:00 Uhr

Gi d e o n Spir o

I tha n k the Int e r n a t i o n a l H u m a n Ri g h t s Le a g u e in

B e rli n for inviti n g m e to sp e a k .

T h e Le a g u e is to be co m m e n d e d for its de ci s i o n to
giv e this ye a r’ s K a rl V o n O s s i e t z k y m e d a l to
M o r d e c h a i V a n u n u . It is a co u r a g e o u s de ci s i o n an d in
m y vie w a cor r e c t an d fittin g on e. I will sa y m o r e
ab o u t that late r in this ad d r e s s .

I w a s as k e d to be g i n wit h a fe w w o r d s ab o u t m y s e l f. I
a m a nati v e of Be r li n, 1 9 3 5, an d a sur vi v o r of
Kr y s t a l l n a c h t , po g r o m w hi c h I ex p e r i e n c e d as a s m a l l
chil d in B e rli n. O n m y fat h e r’ s sid e as w ell as m y
m o t h e r ’ s, m y fa m il y ha s de e p ro ot s in G e r m a n y that
go ba c k for ce n t u r i e s . If not for the ris e of the N a z i
regi m e an d the H ol o c a u s t that follo w e d , w e al m o s t
cert a i n l y w o u l d ha v e re m a i n e d in G e r m a n y – m y
fat h e r wit h a su c c e s s f u l m e d i c a l pr a c ti c e , m y m o t h e r
as a ph o t o g r a p h e r an d do c u m e n t e r of lan d s c a p e s
an d co u n t r i e s . If I co n ti n u e to sp e c u l a t e : I w o u l d ha v e
gr o w n up to be a G e r m a n jour n a l i s t, m a y b e ent e r e d
politi c a l life, gott e n ele c t e d to the parli a m e n t , an d fro m
ther e, w h o kn o w s , to the C h a n c e l l o r po s iti o n , the sk y
is the limit w h e n I tak e flig h t on the wi n g s of
im a g i n a t i o n of “wh a t w o u l d ha v e ha p p e n e d if …”

B ut in fact, no n e of that ha p p e n e d , an d in M a r c h 1 9 3 9
w e e m i g r a t e d , batt e r e d an d br ui s e d , to Jer u s a l e m ,
P al e s t i n e , w hi c h w a s the n un d e r Briti s h rul e.
Isr a e l is a stat e of ref u g e e s , but to m y dis m a y m a n y –
incl u d i n g the go v e r n m e n t s of Isr a e l – ha v e for g o t t e n
that an d ad o p t e d the dis g u s t i n g patt e r n s of be h a v i o u r
fro m w hi c h w e suff e r e d so m u c h .

I too a m a ref u g e e , but I did not for g e t it, he n c e m y

co m m i t m e n t to hu m a n rig h t s, so ci a l justi c e an d
pe a c e , not onl y for Je w s , but for all hu m a n bei n g s .
T h a t is not ob vi o u s to se v e r a l mi n i s t e r s in the
go v e r n m e n t of Isr a e l.

T h e s e prin c i p l e s m a k e m e par t of the mi n o r i t y in

Isr a e l. T h e r e ar e tho s e in Isr a e l an d the Je w i s h
Est a b l i s h m e n t s in vari o u s co u n t r i e s , incl u d i n g
G e r m a n y , w h o defi n e pe o p l e like m e as en e m i e s of
Isr a e l, as facilit a t o r s of anti- Isr a e li pr o p a g a n d a an d
en c o u r a g e r s of anti- Se m i t i s m an d hatr e d of Isr a e l.

B e that as it m a y , I ha v e the ho n o u r of infor m i n g yo u

that I a m not an en e m y of Isr a e l, but I a m ind e e d an
en e m y of raci s m , w a r s, hu m a n rig h t s viol a ti o n s an d
w e a p o n s of m a s s de s t r u c t i o n – nu cl e a r , biol o g i c a l
an d ch e m i c a l . An d that, unf o r t u n a t e l y , pla c e s m e in
op p o s i t i o n to the Isr a e l i go v e r n m e n t an d a su b s t a n t i a l
part of the Isr a e l i pu b li c. I a m co m m i t t e d to ex p r e s s i n g
this m e s s a g e all ov e r the w o r l d, be c a u s e the s e
po siti o n s tra n s c e n d co n ti n e n t s an d nati o n a l bor d e r s .

W h e n the nu c l e a r m u s h r o o m clo u d ris e s ov e r our

regi o n it will not as k m e: ar e yo u a Je w ? O K, yo u ar e
ex e m p t fro m radi o a c t i v e co n t a m i n a t i o n . Ar e yo u an
Ar a b or a M u s l i m ? T h e n it is yo u r fat e to be ro a s t e d
aliv e.

In D e c e m b e r 1 9 6 0 Isr a e l’ s first pri m e mi ni s t e r , D a v i d

B e n G u r i o n , m a d e a bri ef stat e m e n t in the K n e s s e t
an n o u n c i n g the co n s t r u c t i o n of the nu c l e a r re a c t o r at
Di m o n a . H e ad d e d that it w a s a res e a r c h rea c t o r that
w o u l d be op e n to sci e n t i s t s fro m all ov e r the w o r l d.
Alr e a d y the n it w a s cle a r that that w a s a lie. Th e
rea c t o r w a s built for milit a r y pur p o s e s wit h the hel p of
Fr a n c e as a re w a r d for Isr a e l’s su p p o r t duri n g
Fr a n c e ’ s w a r ag a i n s t Alg e r i a n ind e p e n d e n c e . Isr a e l’ s
nu cl e a r sin is link e d to its sin of su p p o r t i n g Fr e n c h
col o n i a l i s m .

Isr a e l is a nu cl e a r po w e r on the sa m e sc al e as Brit ai n,

Fr a n c e an d C hi n a . Isr a e l ha s lau n c h e d a nu cl e a r
ar m s rac e in a da n g e r o u s re gi o n , the Mi d d l e E a s t.
Isr a e l ha s be c o m e a G a r d e n of E d e n for w e a p o n s of
m a s s de s t r u c t i o n – nu c l e a r , biol o g i c a l an d ch e m i c a l .
Esti m a t e s of the nu m b e r of nu c l e a r an d hy d r o g e n
bo m b s in Isr a e l’ s po s s e s s i o n ra n g e bet w e e n 1 0 0 an d
450. To that m u s t be ad d e d the ch e m i c a l an d
biol o g i c a l w e a p o n s that Isr a e l is de v e l o p i n g in the
biol o g i c a l instit u t e at N e s s Zio n a . H e r e w e ha v e a
hist o r i c a l iro n y: a stat e of the sur v i v o r s of Au s c h w i t z
ha s tur n e d into a tim e- bo m b for the ne x t hol o c a u s t –
the nu cl e a r hol o c a u s t .

T h e offici a l Isr a e li po siti o n , that “we will not be the first

to intr o d u c e nu c l e a r w e a p o n s into the Mi d d l e E a s t”
ha s be e n kn o w n for ye a r s no w to be mi sl e a d i n g , an d
no on e is bu y i n g that fak e m e r c h a n d i s e . T h a t sta n c e
ste m m e d fro m an arr a n g e m e n t bet w e e n Isr a e l an d
the U S that per m i t t e d the U S to co n ti n u e to su p p o r t
Isr a e l an d thu s to circ u m v e n t the la w pa s s e d by the
U S C o n g r e s s ac c o r d i n g to w hi c h a stat e that is
de v e l o p i n g nu c l e a r w e a p o n s in viol a ti o n of the N o n-
Pr olif e r a t i o n Tr e a t y is ineli g i b l e to rec e i v e U S for ei g n
aid.

T h e go v e r n m e n t of Isr a e l an d the or g a n i z a t i o n s
su bj e c t to its influ e n c e an d/or co n t r o l oft e n m a k e
m a n i p u l a t i v e us e of the H ol o c a u s t as an instr u m e n t to
sile n c e voi c e s that ar e critic a l of Isr a e l an d to tar wit h
the br u s h of anti- Se m i t i s m tho s e w h o dar e to
as s e r t i v e l y dis a g r e e wit h Isr a e l’ s poli ci e s , es p e c i a l l y
tho s e rel at e d to the O c c u p a t i o n an d ap a r t h e i d that
Isr a e l im p o s e s on the Pal e s t i n i a n pe o p l e in the
O c c u p i e d Ter rit o r i e s . M o r e tha n on c e this m e t h o d ha s
pr o v e d to be effici e n t an d ha s pu s h e d pe o p l e into a
def e n s i v e cor n e r , the r e b y div e r ti n g fire fro m Isr a e l
to w a r d s its critic s w h o no w m u s t pr o v e that the y ar e
not anti- S e m i t e s .

M e a n w h i l e so m e Isr a e li lea d e r s ha v e rec e n t l y m a d e a

fe w slip s of the ton g u e fro m w hi c h it ca n cle a r l y be
un d e r s t o o d that Isr a e l ha s nu cl e a r w e a p o n s . For m e r
Pri m e Mi n i s t e r Eh u d Ol m e r t did it in an inter v i e w wit h
a G e r m a n ne w s p a p e r . Pr e s i d e n t Shi m o n P e r e s , w h o
for rea s o n s that ar e un c l e a r w o n the N o b e l P e a c e
Priz e, an d w h o se e s Isr a e l’ s nu c l e a r re a c t o r as the
pin n a c l e of his ac h i e v e m e n t s , did it in a do c u m e n t a r y
fil m ab o u t the cr e a t i o n of the re a c t o r in Di m o n a . T h u s
ha s the poli c y of “we will not be the first” go n e do w n
the dr ai n.
Isr a e l ha s als o pr e s s e d the H ol o c a u s t into ser vi c e on
the iss u e of the nu c l e a r ar m s . Th e do o m s d a y w e a p o n
is inte n d e d , the m e d i a tell us in the na m e of the
go v e r n m e n t , to pr e v e n t a se c o n d H ol o c a u s t . Ag a i n
the H ol o c a u s t is us e d as co v e r for nef a r i o u s poli c y. In
Isr a e l the y lov e to ad o p t the po s e of the ete r n a l victi m
w h o is in da n g e r of de s t r u c t i o n , alo n g wit h to the
m a n t r a “the w h o l e w o rl d is ag a i n s t us.” It ser v e s
Isr a e l’ s nu cl e a r pi m p s ver y w ell. T h u s do the y so w
fear in Isr a e l. B ut the fact of the m a t t e r is that Isr a e l is
not faci n g liq ui d a t i o n or de s t r u c t i o n fro m out s i d e
(may b e fro m wit hi n – but that is for an o t h e r
dis c u s s i o n). Isr a e l ha s the str o n g e s t an d be s t-
eq u i p p e d ar m y in the Mi d d l e Ea s t, Isr a e l is ar m e d to
the teet h wit h su p e r- m o d e r n w e a p o n s , m o r e tha n
en o u g h for self- def e n c e , en o u g h to be an oc c u p y i n g
stat e that rul e ov e r an o t h e r pe o p l e for ne a r l y 44 ye a r s
no w . T h e r e is no ne e d for nu c l e a r w e a p o n s .

T h e iss u e als o of co u r s e ha s ec o l o g i c a l an d oth e r

as p e c t s – for ex a m p l e , a hu m a n- m a d e or nat u r a l
dis a s t e r . T h e rea c t o r in Di m o n a sits in the Gr e a t Rift
V all e y, an ar e a pr o n e to ear t h q u a k e s . A n ear t h q u a k e
hig h on the Ric h t e r Sc a l e co u l d ru pt u r e the rea c t o r
an d cr e a t e a ra di o a c t i v e m u s h r o o m clo u d ov e r Isr a e l,
w hi c h is ther e b y in da n g e r of de s t r u c t i o n ev e n wit h o u t
w a r. A n d the n the r e is the iss u e of nu cl e a r w a s t e that
en d a n g e r s the w a t e r tabl e, parti c u l a r l y critic a l in a
co u n t r y w h e r e the r e is a sh o r t a g e of w at e r. A n d ther e
is al w a y s the da n g e r that lea d e r s will us e the
w e a p o n s in a milit a r y ad v e n t u r e , or mi s r e a d the
inte n t i o n s of the ad v e r s a r y , w hi c h is of co u r s e
parti c u l a r l y da n g e r o u s in a re gi o n like our s w h e r e so
m a n y lea d e r s beli e v e the y ha v e a dir e c t line to G o d
an d thin k in ter m s of Ar m a g e d d o n . N ot onl y in Ira n;
als o in Isr a e l.

T o m y dis m a y G e r m a n y too is part of the pict u r e , all

be c a u s e of that twi st e d m o r a l an d politi c a l us e to
w hi c h the H ol o c a u s t ha s be e n put. Inst e a d of
co n c e n t r a t i n g on the m a i n les s o n of the H ol o c a u s t ,
w hi c h is to pr e s e r v e de m o c r a c y an d to str u g g l e for
hu m a n rig h t s an d ag a i n s t raci s m an d tyr a n n y ,
G e r m a n y se e s itself – wit h Isr a e l’ s en c o u r a g e m e n t of
co u r s e – as ha v i n g the dut y to ex p r e s s its
co m m i t m e n t to Isr a e l thr o u g h the pr o v i s i o n of milit a r y
eq u i p m e n t a m o n g oth e r thin g s . G e r m a n y ha s
pr o v i d e d Isr a e l, as a gift, wit h thr e e su p e r- m o d e r n
su b m a r i n e s that ca n car r y nu c l e a r mi s s il e s . Th a t is
not just a pot e n t i a l i t y; it is the cur r e n t re alit y. It
ha p p e n e d duri n g the inc u m b e n c y of For e i g n Mi n i s t e r
an d Vic e- C h a n c e l l o r Jo s c h k a Fis c h e r , the lea d e r of
the Gr e e n s . An o t h e r ab s u r d i t y : the Gr e e n s , at the ro ot
of w h o s e exi s t e n c e is the anti- nu c l e a r str u g g l e ,
pr o v i d e the m e a n s for nu c l e a r w a r f a r e in the m o s t
ex pl o s i v e regi o n in the w o r l d.
I wr o t e to a lett e r to the Gr e e n facti o n in the
B u n d e s t a g to re q u e s t that the y at lea s t m a k e the
deli v e r y of the su b m a r i n e s co n d i t i o n a l on an Isr a e li
co m m i t m e n t that the y w o u l d not be nu c l e a r- ar m e d .
T h e H o n o u r a b l e M e m b e r s did not bot h e r to an s w e r .
T h e frie n d s h i p bet w e e n for m e r Pri m e Mi ni s t e r Ari el
S h a r o n an d For e i g n Mi n i s t e r Jo s c h k a Fis c h e r w a s
str o n g e r tha n their co m m i t m e n t to the ca m p a i g n
ag a i n s t nu c l e a r w e a p o n s . H e n c e the ab s u r d i t y that
G e r m a n y is hel pi n g Isr a e l an d the Mi d d l e Ea s t cr e a t e
the ne x t hol o c a u s t as co m p e n s a t i o n for the pr e v i o u s
on e. Thi s is w h a t is call e d sy st e m i c m a d n e s s .
A n o t h e r poi n t that I w a n t to e m p h a s i z e is that w e
op p o s e nu c l e a r ar m s in the ha n d s of Ira n no les s tha n
in tho s e of Isr a e l. As Isr a e l i s w e nat u r a l l y foc u s on the
co u n t r y in w hi c h w e live, but w e ar e a m o d e s t
co m p o n e n t in an inte r n a t i o n a l fro n t of pr o p o n e n t s of
pe a c e an d hu m a n rig h t s w h o se e nu cl e a r w e a p o n s as
a terri bl e da n g e r in an y pla c e , es p e c i a l l y in the Mi d d l e
E a s t an d in a fun d a m e n t a l i s t stat e that viol a t e s
hu m a n rig h t s, like Ira n.
W e ho p e that the inte r n a t i o n a l str u g g l e to pr e v e n t Ira n
fro m ac q u i r i n g nu cl e a r w e a p o n s will su c c e e d thr o u g h
ne g o t i a t i o n s an d not thr o u g h an o t h e r w a r, the
co n s e q u e n c e s of w hi c h ar e liabl e to be fra u g h t wit h
dis a s t e r for all. T h e fact that Isr a e l is ap p l y i n g
pr e s s u r e ev e r y w h e r e for milit a r y acti o n ag a i n s t Ira n
w hil e hinti n g at the po s s i b i lit y of unil a t e r a l Isr a e l i
milit a r y acti o n is frig h t e n i n g , for no b o d y kn o w s w h a t
Ira n alr e a d y ha s in its ba s e m e n t . Isr a e l co u l d pla y an
ho n o u r a b l e par t in the cr e a t i o n of a Mi d d l e E a s t fre e
of w e a p o n s of m a s s de s t r u c t i o n if it w o u l d agr e e , as
the part y that set the re gi o n on the pat h to nu c l e a r
ar m a m e n t , to div e s t itself of the m in a su p e r v i s e d an d
co o r d i n a t e d pr o c e s s .
In co n c l u s i o n , a fe w w o r d s ab o u t M o r d e c h a i V a n u n u .
W h e n he w o r k e d as a tec h n i c i a n in the nu cl e a r
rea c t o r at Di m o n a , it be c a m e cle a r to hi m that he w a s
part of a m a c h i n e that w a s m a k i n g nu c l e a r bo m b s
be h i n d the ba c k s of the citiz e n r y , wit h o u t rep o r ti n g to
the m an d wit h o u t an y pu b li c dis c u s s i o n of the m a t t e r .
H e tho u g h t that it sh o u l d be rep o r t e d to the pu b li c.
T h e pu b li c’ s rig h t to kn o w is an im p o r t a n t pri n c i p l e in
a de m o c r a t i c regi m e , an d cert a i n l y so w h e n it co m e s
to iss u e s that aff e c t the live s of ev e r y per s o n . H e
refl e c t e d an d he act e d : he co ul d not pu b li s h the
infor m a t i o n in Isr a e l be c a u s e the ce n s o r w o u l d not
per m i t it, so he m a d e us e of the de m o c r a t i c pr e s s
out si d e Isr a e l, an d told the E n g l i s h ne w s p a p e r the
S u n d a y Ti m e s of Lo n d o n w h a t w a s ha p p e n i n g in
Di m o n a . In doi n g so, he re ali z e d the Je w i s h bibli c a l
rule that “Yo u sh a ll sur e l y re b u k e yo u r nei g h b o u r .”
(Levitic u s 1 9: 1 7).
Isr a e l act e d like a terr o r i s t or g a n i z a t i o n , an d in
co m p l e t e disr e g a r d of inte r n a t i o n a l la w, kid n a p p e d
V a n u n u usi n g M o s s a d ag e n t s , trie d hi m in a clo s e d
trial the out c o m e of w hi c h w a s a for e g o n e co n c l u s i o n ,
co n v i c t e d hi m of tre a s o n an d es pi o n a g e an d se n t hi m
to pris o n for 1 8 ye a r s. Va n u n u ’ s act w a s si m il a r to
that of Ka r l V o n O s s i e t z k y , w h o als o br o u g h t to the
pu b li c’ s att e n t i o n info r m a t i o n that the go v e r n m e n t w a s
tryi n g to co n c e a l . Ka r l Vo n O s s i e t z k y too w a s put on
trial for tre a s o n , but in the W e i m a r R e p u b l i c the
jud g e s w e r e m o r e m o d e r a t e tha n their Isr a e li
co u n t e r p a r t s , an d the y se n t e n c e d hi m to 1 8 m o n t h s in
pris o n .
M o r d e c h a i V a n u n u an d K a rl V o n O s s i e t z k y w e r e not
an d ar e not trait o r s but hu m a n i s t s w h o follo w e d the
dict a t e s of their co n s c i e n c e s on be h a l f of the citiz e n r y
an d ag a i n s t go v e r n m e n t s that w e r e betr a y i n g their
citiz e n s . A n o t h e r poi n t the y ha v e in co m m o n is
inter n a t i o n a l rec o g n i t i o n of their acti o n s in the fac e of
reje c t i o n an d isol a ti o n at ho m e .
K a rl V o n O s s i e t z k y w a s m u r d e r e d by the N a z i s, but
his pa cifi s t acti o n w o n inte r n a t i o n a l rec o g n i t i o n , w hi c h
w a s ex p r e s s e d a m o n g oth e r w a y s by the a w a r d i n g of
the N o b e l Pe a c e Pri z e, w hi c h he rec e i v e d w hil e
inc a r c e r a t e d .
M o r d e c h a i V a n u n u too ha s w o n rec o g n i t i o n an d
ap p r e c i a t i o n all ov e r the w o r l d as on e w h o ha s m a d e
an im p o r t a n t co n t r i b u t i o n to the inter n a t i o n a l str u g g l e
ag a i n s t nu c l e a r w e a p o n s . H e is the reci p i e n t of
se v e r a l pe a c e priz e s , an d for ye a r s no w he ha s als o
be e n a no m i n e e for the N o b e l P e a c e Priz e.
K a rl V o n O s s i e t z k y ha s no w w o n rec o g n i t i o n fro m his
o w n pe o p l e , w hi c h Va n u n u ha s not yet do n e . Va n u n u
ser v e d his full se n t e n c e , incl u d i n g 1 1 ye a r s in
co m p l e t e isol a ti o n for the pur p o s e of drivi n g hi m out
of his mi n d so he co u l d be instit u ti o n a l i z e d for the rest
of his da y s. Th e St a t e of Isr a e l faile d to do that.
V a n u n u sh o w e d hi m s e l f to be a m a n of rar e
per s o n a l i t y, willp o w e r an d det e r m i n a t i o n an d he
w al k e d out of pris o n aft e r 1 8 ye a r s wit h the sa m e
co m m i t m e n t for w hi c h he ha d ent e r e d it: op p o s i t i o n to
nu cl e a r w e a p o n s .
T w o m o r e poi n t s sh o u l d be ad d e d . Fir st: Fe w
de c a d e s ag o M o r d e c h a i V a n u n u join e d the An g li c a n
C h u r c h . T h a t is an unf o r g i v a b l e sin in a stat e rule d by
religi o u s an d nati o n a l i s t ze a l o t r y . In Isr a e l the r e is no
se p a r a t i o n of reli gi o n an d stat e, an d a Je w ca n n o t
m a r r y a no n- Je w . Isr a e l ha s not yet inte r n a l i z e d the
de m o c r a t i c co n c e p t that a per s o n ’ s religi o u s fait h is
his or her o w n bu si n e s s an d not that of the St a t e.
S e c o n d : M o r d e c h a i Va n u n u w a s bor n into the
M o r o c c a n Je w i s h co m m u n i t y . T h e Eu r o p e a n
As h k e n a z i Est a b l i s h m e n t ha s al w a y s tre a t e d
ev e r y t h i n g that is ha s ori gi n s in the Ar a b w o r l d wit h
su p e r i o r i t y, co n t e m p t an d arr o g a n c e .

T h e s e tw o poi n t s ar e w o r t h y of a se p a r a t e dis c u s s i o n ,
but sin c e w e ar e not gat h e r e d her e for that pur p o s e , I
will not ela b o r a t e on the m tod a y . I m e n t i o n the m
be c a u s e the y ar e a parti a l ex pl a n a t i o n for the Isr a e l i
politi c a l an d milit a r y Est a b l i s h m e n t ’ s har s h ,
un c o m p r o m i s i n g an d ve n g e f u l tre a t m e n t of V a n u n u in
co m p a r i s o n to oth e r ca s e s .

T h e aut h o r i ti e s of the St a t e of Isr a e l ca n n o t for gi v e

V a n u n u for not ha v i n g as k e d for gi v e n e s s an d
ab s o l u t i o n , an d the y co n ti n u e to har a s s hi m wit h
restri c ti o n s on his fre e d o m of sp e e c h an d m o v e m e n t ,
ba si c de m o c r a t i c rig h t s. T h a t is w h y he ca n n o t be
her e tod a y to rec e i v e the m e d a l. Isr a e l an d C hi n a ar e
tw o stat e s that tre a t m e n of co n s c i e n c e w h o ha v e
w o n inter n a t i o n a l rec o g n i t i o n wit h cr u e l t y. I ho p e that
an ap p e a l will go out fro m her e to the go v e r n m e n t of
Isr a e l to sto p the ab u s e of M o r d e c h a i V a n u n u an d
per m i t hi m to lea v e Isr a e l so he ca n be a fre e m a n at
last. O nl y the n ca n a bel a t e d cer e m o n y be hel d her e
in B e rli n to giv e hi m the m e d a l .
I tha n k yo u for yo u r att e n t i o n .

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