Vanunu worked in the secret Israeli nuclear facility at Dimona and, in the 1980s, came to Australia where he befriended people at St Johns Anglican Church in Darlinghurst, a Sydney inner suburb. One who spent a lot of time with him was Rev. Dave Smith, now at Holy Trinity, Dulwich Hill. Eventually Vanunu became a Christian.
He was troubled about Israel's nuclear ambitions and refusal to submit to International scrutiny. In 1986, he divulged the story and supplied his own secret photographs to a UK Newspaper. He was subsequently kidnapped by Israeli agents. The Israeli plan was to say that he had returned to Israel of his own free will, but his kidnapping was seen and photographed, including a message Vanunu had written on his hand revealing that he was a victim of kidnapping.
What was intended to be a secret arrest and trial became very much more public, but Vanunu remained in Israeli custody for 18 years, much of it in solitary confinement. Christian support has been very much part of his survival.
Because of his conversion as much as for divulging the Government's actions, Vanunu has been demonised by the Israeli public. He has been re-arrested several times since his 2004 release. His current crimes seem to have included meeting a Scandinavian girlfriend, staying in a hotel rather than his usual place of residence, and having a letter from the US among his correspondence.
The public needs to be aware of this so that Israel is unable to take action
There is a further issue to consider. Over many years of being a Christian, I have met a number of evangelicals whose attitude seems to be, "You can't criticise Israel. They are God's people, and their return to Palestine is prophesied. Do you want to oppose God?"
I have seen many instances where Biblical prophecy has been fulfilled in the recent history of Israel. But it remains true that persecution, racism and violence are so much part of contemporary Israeli life that it well deserves the description "rogue nation."
In Biblical times, Israel frequently faced God's judgment for injustice and unrighteousness. Yet they remained God's people, continued to have a role in God's saving purposes, and were eventually restored to the place of blessing when they repented.
God's people -- Israelites or Christians -- need to hear the voices of prophets and respond to them, or they will hear instead the taunts of their enemies.
Meanwhile it is vital for those of good will, regardless of their religion or race, to refuse to support injustice and unrighteousness from any source, because to support it is to participate in it.
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