HL Deb 07 February 1994 vol 551 c108WA
Lord Jenkins of Putney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they consider that the kidnapping of Mr. Mordechai Vanunu by the Israeli secret service and eight years' solitary confinement are compatible with accepted canons of a civilised and democratic state, and what action they are taking to persuade the Israeli Government to release Mr. Vanunu.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

Mr. Vanunu appears to have been treated in accordance with the normal judicial process in Israel. There is no evidence of any illegality in the UK and we have no formal standing to intervene. We have however raised with the Israelis our concerns over humanitarian aspects of this case. The Israelis assured us in 1993 that the conditions under which Mr. Vanunu is detained have improved.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What has happened consequential to the resolution by Mr. Stan Newens, MEP calling on the European Human Rights Sub-Committee to arrange a visit to Mordechai Vanunu, who has been kept in solitary confinement by the Israeli Government and its predecessors for eight years following his kidnap and abduction from Europe to Israel by agents of the Israeli secret service.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

The European Parliament has not adopted a resolution calling on the Human Rights Sub-Committee to arrange a visit to Mr. Vanunu. There was a motion for a resolution for an urgency debate in the December 1993 Plenary Session but this did not succeed. The Human Rights Sub-Committee of the European Parliament are currently considering a resolution which would recommend asking the Israeli authorities for permission to allow an MEP to visit Mr. Vanunu.