International

SP Member of Parliament Krista van Velzen has asked Foreign Minister Ben Bot to comment on the results of his talks with Israeli premier Ehud Olmert, who recently implied that his country is a nuclear power. Ms Van Velzen wants the Dutch government to put pressure on Israel to lift continuing restrictions on the freedom of nuclear weapons whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu.

Mr Vanunu worked as a technician in the Israeli atomic weapons industry and in 1985 revealed that the country had such weapons at its disposal. For this he was condemned to eighteen years in prison. Having served his sentence, however, he continues to await full liberty, as Van Velzen explains: "Vanunu is subject to heavy restrictions on his freedom," she says. "He is kept under constant surveillance, has no passport and is forbidden to travel. I want Foreign Minister Bot to bring pressure to bear to bring these restrictions to an end, now that premier Olmert himself has added Israel's name to the list of countries with nuclear capabilities.”

In the light of growing tension between the United States and Iran over the latter's atomic energy policy, Mr Olmert's remarks appear to be an open threat aimed at the Iranians. The SP is committed to urging the removal of all nuclear weapons from the Middle East and the abandonment therefore of Israel's nuclear disarmament.