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Police detain nuclear whistleblower Vanunu  > >By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service >The police international investigations unit detained nuclear >whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu on Thursday morning for questioning >related to an ongoing probe examining suspicions he leaked national >secrets and violated legal rulings since his release from prison. >Prior to Vanunu's detention, police searched his room in the east >Jerusalem hostel in which he is staying. Officers confiscated documents >and other materials. > >The search of Vanunu's room and the investigation itself are being >conducted at the direction of the attorney general and in coordination >with the state prosecutor. > >Vanunu ended an 18-year prison term for treason in April, but was barred >from leaving Israel. Security sources had said he was under surveillance >on suspicion of giving unauthorized interviews to foreign media. > >In an interview with a Greek radio station in late September, the Vanunu >said that he does not feel safe in Israel, and wishes to leave the >country as soon as possible. Vanunu also used the interview to reiterate >his attacks on Israel's nuclear policies. > >"The United States is pushing Iran with respect to its nuclear weapons >program. It needs to do the same thing to Israel," he stated. "You can't >focus on Iran and forget about Israel." > >The former prisoner, who was imprisoned on charges of spying and >treason, also dealt with Israel's nuclear secrets in the interview. >"There are still nuclear weapons materials in Israel, and I believe that >during the past 18 years, more have been built," he said. > >Several months ago, authorities opened a criminal investigation against >Vanunu for granting an interview to the BBC and the Sunday Times weeks >after his release, in light of security issues, since Vanunu had >discussed secret knowledge he had been forbidden to discuss in the >interview. > >"Vanunu has flagrantly violated the conditions of his release in >granting this interview," stated police sources. "Something must be done >to stop this."