Court: Vanunu can visit Palestinian areas

Nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu did not violate a government-imposed ban on foreign travel by entering Palestinian Authority territory, an Israeli court has ruled.

The court also asked the state to submit an amended charge against Vanunu within a month, his lawyer, Avigdor Feldman, said today.

Vanunu was released from prison last year, after serving an 18-year term for treason, for spilling Israel’s nuclear secrets.

The conditions of his release included a ban on foreign travel and on meetings with foreign reporters. Two months ago, he was indicted on charges he violated those restrictions.

In a ruling on Sunday, Jerusalem Magistrate Yoel Tzur said the West Bank and Gaza Strip cannot be considered “outside Israel” because they can be reached without a passport or visa.

He also told prosecutors to be more specific about Vanunu’s alleged violations of a ban on meeting with foreign journalists.