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International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation |
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International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation |
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A account by Charles Lenchner 
Following up on the UN's inspection teams in Iraq, and the efforts of anti-nuclear activists around the world, an Israeli Citizen's Verification Team decided to pay a visit to a no-longer secret nuclear missile base. The ICVT was made up of anti-nuclear, peace, environmental, and political activists who gathered to protest Israel's nuclear policy and the continuing imprisonment of Mordecai Vanunu. (Including the Committee for Free Vanunu, Nuclear Holocaust Preventers, the Israeli Young Communist League and others.)
Saturday, April 4, 1998, our team arrived at "Egozi" air force base, located in the area surrounded by Revadim, Kfar Menachem, and Zacharya. The base does not appear on any map, and the gate has no welcoming sign with the name of the base. The main entrance is located at the end of a short access road that also leads to a nature preserve, where tourists might stop for a picnic.
One member of the team used a Geiger counter to check radiation levels. While the readings varied (1700 - 7,000), it was obvious that they were more than 100 times the levels recorded in Jerusalem (.17). I approached the gate to speak to the guard together with Smadar, who held the Geiger counter. We showed the soldier, who told us he was a reservist, the radiation levels we were reading. He was surprised and interested. We explained that it was necessary to see the commander of the base, to ask him to let our team inside to investigate the nuclear weapons inside the base. He asked us what we would do if allowed inside. I told him we would take notes for the UN and other bodies, interested in reducing the risk of nuclear war. In the end I explained why it was necessary for Israel to give up nuclear weapons.
The other members of the team lined up opposite the gate, effectively blocking it to traffic. They held up signs and banners calling for nuclear disarmament, public debate on Israel's nuclear policy, and the release of Mordecai Vanunu, who has spent nearly twelve years in solitary confinement.
The duty officer arrived and asked me what I wanted. I told him that he is suspected of planning war crimes to be committed in the future. Nuclear weapons kill indiscriminately, destroying all life within a particular radius, and permanently damaging the environment. Even if never used on purpose, the existence of this base poses a risk to the area in case of an accident. I reminded him that just following orders was not considered a legitimate defense according to international humanitarian law, and he should expect to be prosecuted for his role in deploying weapons of mass destruction - if they should ever be used. He was presented with a letter containing more in the same vein.
He refused to accept the letter, and informed the CVT that the police had been called. After an hour, a single police vehicle arrived, with two officers who did not have instructions to arrest anyone. After it was made clear that we would leave rather than face arrest, they seemed pleased and prepared to leave. At this point, the duty officer came up to them and told them that someone was seen photographing the base. The culprit was an American tourist who joined at the last minute. He was terrified! In the end he was released without being detained, due to the intervention of the taxi driver mentioned above. The real photographer was never identified and photos are available upon request.
The CVT left the site at approximately 6:00, promising to return again with residents of neighboring communities. While the existence of the base itself is an open secret in the area, information on the nuclear issues at stake are relatively unknown.
Israel is confronted with two choices: a policy of peaceful relations with the neighboring Arab states, backed up by conventional military forces, or a policy of aggression backed up by non-conventional weapons. As long as our government chooses the latter, other countries have the impetus to develop non-conventional weapons of their own. The alternative is built on enforceable treaties that will keep the Middle East nuclear free. Including Israel.
Charles Lenchner, Israeli Citizen Verification Team, Forwarded by : the Nuclear Resister - "a chronicle of hope", P.O. Box 43383, Tucson AZ 85733.
Information about and support for imprisoned anti-nuclear activists: Felice & Jack Cohen-Joppa, editors, tel +1-520-323-8697, email nukeresister@igc.org.
A comprehensive survey on "Citizen Actions, Inspections and Resistance" can be found on the web http://www.pgs.ca/pages/citinsp.htm, where this article is taken from.
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Citizen Inspections - Recent Events 21 August 1997, USA Nevada Test Site Activists Sentenced In Subcritical Direct Action Blockade 26 February 1998, Bangor, Trident submarine base, Washington state, USA: A citizens weapons inspection team led by a Canadian MP flew over the base in a private plane and identified 24 bunkers and 3 submarines. 1 March 1998, Tucson USA, Members of a Citizen's Inspection Team (CIT) were arrested at the main gate of Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson as they attempted to inspect the base for suspected weapons of mass or indiscriminate destruction. 5 March 1998, Lawrence Livermore, nuclear weapon laboratory, California, USA 7 citizens inspectors arrested on a fact-finding mission. The team carried UN flags. 18 March 1998, Kleine Brugel, B-61 nuclear bomb store, Belgium: Citizens nuclear weapons inspection team including a Belgian MP visited the base. 3 of the 4 members of the team where able to get 200 metres inside before they were stopped by Military Police. 26 March 1998, Lawrence Livermore, nuclear weapon laboratory California, USA: Visit by citizens verification team who will request interviews with management, unfettered access. 26 March 1998, Los Alamos, nuclear weapon laboratory, New Mexico, USA: Visit by citizens verification team who will request interviews with management, unfettered access.
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