Nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu is expected to leave the St. George Church in Jerusalem, where he has been staying since his release from jail, and rent a flat with friends in east Jerusalem, Ynet has learned.
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Vanunu announced his decision in a letter sent to Yael Lotan, member of the Free Vanunu Committee.
Since his release from prison, Vanunu has been living in a hostel in the church and has been financed by donations from overseas. According to Lotan, Vanunu explained the reasons for the move: "I am a little tired of it and also want to live frugally, since living at the church is too expensive."
Lotan added that the former prisoner chose to live in east Jerusalem because "he doesn’t want to live among the Jews who have harassed him, and immediately upon his release hundreds of them stood up and assaulted him and put him in danger."
Dr. Yoel Cohen, a mass communications lecturer at the Netanya Academic College and the author of a book on Vanunu titled "The Whistleblower of Dimona," explained: "First of all, Vanunu is looking for more privacy. Other than that, the church has been harshly criticized by Jews worldwide and in Israel for 'housing a traitor.'"
The restrictions on Vanunu's release conditions were recently extended and he was ordered not to leave the State of Israel. A hearing on his request to leave the country is expected to be held on May 1.
Attorneys Michael Sfarad and Avigdor Feldman, who filed a petition to the High Court of Justice on behalf of Vanunu several months ago, claimed that the extension of the restrictions force him to remain isolated.
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