Mordechai Vanunu worked at Dimona Nuclear Power Plant in Israel from 1976
to 1985 as a technician and learned about Israel's secret production of
plutonium for nuclear weapons. In 1985 Vanunu believed it was his
responsibility to inform the citizens of Israel as well as the rest of the
world that nuclear weapons were being built and stored in Israel.
On October 5, 1986, the London Sunday Times newspaper headlines boldly
announced, "Revealed: The Secrets of Israel's Nuclear Arsenal." The
startling story, based on interviews with Vanunu and the 60 photographs he
provided showing Israeli plutonium spheres used for triggers in nuclear
warheads, revealed that Israel was fast developing nuclear weapons.
In detail, Vanunu's data showed that Israel possessed over 200 bombs with
boosted devices, neutron bombs, F-16 deliverable warheads, and Jericho
warheads. The boosted weapons shown in the Vanunu photographs revealed a
sophistication that inferred the requirement for testing. Vanunu revealed
for the first time the underground plutonium separation facility where
Israel was producing 40 kilograms annually, several times more than
previous estimates. Photographs showed sophisticated designs which
scientific experts say enabled the Israelis to build bombs with as little
as 4 kilograms of plutonium. [Source: Farr]
Vanunu never saw the newspaper because five days prior to the release of
the story he was lured to Rome and kidnapped there by Israeli secret agents.
http://www.peaceheroes.com/MordecaiVanunu/mvanunubio2.htm
