We must defend Vanunu and the humanitarian values he stands for

MORDECHAI VANUNU was released on Wednesday after serving almost 18 years in jail for telling the truth about Israel's surreptitious efforts to develop nuclear weapons in 1986.

As he said himself outside the jail, he received "very cruel and barbaric treatment".

For almost 12 years he was held in solitary confinement, essentially to ensure that he could not tell the truth. And now that he is out, he has been ordered not to speak to journalists or foreigners, to stay away from foreign embassies and airports, and not to go near any of Israel's borders.