Briefs

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No way out

NUCLEAR whistle-blower Mordechai Vanunu has been forbidden by Israel's highest court from leaving the country. He responded to Monday's verdict by saying it was a "very sad and shameful day for Israel".

A former technician at the Dimona nuclear reactor, he disclosed to the world that Israel was developing nuclear weapons through a series of interviews with the London Sunday Times. He was subsequently jailed for 18 years on the charge of treason.

He says that he has no more secrets to reveal and simply wants to leave the country because he wants "to be free", "to start living as a human being" and because "[his] country is not Israel".

Hailed by opponents of nuclear weapons as a "hero of peace", Vanunu has, since his release in April, also been banned from using mobile phones and the Internet, speaking to foreigners and from approaching embassies or borders.

Most of all, Israel fears he may divulge the names of former colleagues at Dimona, thereby putting them at risk of sanctions or prosecution.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its development of nuclear weapons. And although there has been much pressure -- mainly by international human rights groups -- to force Israel to dismantle its nuclear arsenal, there has been no progress thus far.

Vanunu has publicly stated that it is the job of Mohamed El-Baradei to "go and inspect the Dimona reactor," and find out whether his accusations are in fact true. However, the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog failed to even visit the reactor during his visit to Israel in early July.

The United States' Central Intelligence Agency estimates that Israel currently has between 200 and 250 nuclear warheads.

Playtime's over

SAUDI Arabia's month-long amnesty for militants to surrender, issued on 23 June, ended last week. Under the amnesty, the Saudi government promised it would not execute militants who voluntarily surrendered. Only six men turned themselves in: three surrendered in Saudi Arabia, two in Syria and one in Iran. According to the Associated Press news agency, "key militants are still active and plotting."

The kingdom -- which has been plagued over recent months by attacks, mainly against foreigners and international corporations -- has thus stepped up its own internal "war on terror" and fight against growing anti-state insurgency, while maintaining the semblance of leniency.

Yemen has been following a similar, outwardly lenient approach towards suspected militants. Iraq is expected to follow suit.