Christmas in Jerusalem 2007 for 21st Century Jeremiah: Mordechai Vanunu

On Christmas Eve evening I picked up my mailof Peace/Jesus was all about. Jesus never
and opened up a card from Jerusalem sent to medemanded he be worshipped, but he promised
by Mordechai Vanunu. He made me laugh out loud,that it is the peacemakers who are the children
for he addressed it to: "Eileen Flaming" notof God; and NOT those who bomb, torture of
Fleming, which is my actual name.occupy others.
But, upon reflection, I think Vanunu has renamedNo Way did Jesus ever say that "SECURITY" -the
me well; for I am flaming over the hypocrisy andblanket excuse of empire builders to justify and
injustice of empire and apathy and ignorance ofdeny basic human rights and international law-is
good Christians who have no eyes to see, earsOK!
to hear, or hearts that bleed for the poor andThe term 'Christian' was not even coined until the
oppressed in the Holy land and the entire Middledays of Paul, about 3 decades after Jesus walked
East.the earth a man. Jesus was never a Christian, but
I picked my Christmas Eve mail up three years tohe was a social justice, radical revolutionary
the very hour to when I had first read an articlePalestinian devout Jewish road warrior who rose
by Jerry Levin about Vanunu's 2004 Christmasup and challenged the job security of the Temple
Eve arrest for attempting to travel the less thanauthorities by teaching the people they did NOT
two hour walk from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.need to pay the priests for ritual baths or
Levin was a former CNN Mid East Bureau Chief ofsacrificing livestock to be OK with God; for God
the 1980's who had been a secular Jew heldalready LOVED them just as they were: sinners,
hostage by the Lebanese Hezbollah. Levin escapedpoor, diseased, outcasts, widows, orphans,
his captivity unharmed shortly after a mysticalrefugees and prisoners all living under Roman
Christmas Eve experience of Jesus and hadMilitary Occupation.
become a full time volunteer with ChristianWhat got Jesus crucified was disturbing the status
Peacemaker Teams in Hebron. Levin's articlequo of the Roman Occupying Forces of his time,
about Vanunu's Christmas Eve arrest got my Irishby teaching the subversive concept that Caesar
temper flaming about the injustices Israel isonly had power because God allowed it and that
allowed to perpetuate; and three Christmas' later,God preferred the humble sinner, the poor,
my flaming Irish temper persists.diseased, outcasts, widows, orphans, refugees
In 2004, Vanunu had attempted to celebrate hisand prisoners all living under Roman Occupation
first Christmas Eve Mass as a Christian in theabove the elite and arrogant military occupiers.
Little Town of Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity,The early followers and lovers of Jesus were
which is in Occupied Territory. Instead of mass,called members of THE WAY-being THE WAY he
Israel arrested him and Vanunu spent Christmastaught one should be; Nonviolent, a Peacemaker
Eve night in prison for Israel claimed Vanunu wasand one who did the will of the Father. And,
"attempting to leave the county" which they have"What does God require? He has told you o'man!
not allowed.Be just, be merciful, and walk humbly with your
On December 26, I opened up an email VanunuLord." -Micah 6:8
had sent me about his 2007 Christmas in2,000 years ago The Cross had NO symbolic
Jerusalem:religious meaning. When Jesus said: "Pick up your
"Bad news, Dec. 25 th. The police come to thecross and follow me," He was issuing a
American Colony to arrest me. I was meeting aPOLITICAL statement, for the main roads in
young German girl who wanted to know moreJerusalem were lined with crucified agitators,
about my story. They took us to the policerebels, dissidents and any others who disturbed
questioning me, hold me until midnight 24:00. Notthe status quo of the Roman Occupying Forces.
so impressive all this again arrest. I think the policeIsrael claims they cannot let Vanunu leave Israel
was waiting for my arrest in Bethlehem, since Ibecause he still has a 'secret' he has yet to tell
did go to B L. they found new reason to arrestabout their underground WMD Program in the
me. Any way life will continue as I am doing all theDimona, which Vanunu has NOT sent foot into in
Time.vmjcover 21 years-and international inspectors never
On December 27, Vanunu wrote again:have been allowed to tread upon. Yet Israel claims
"...they were very harsh to the young German girl,SECURITY as their rational and ignores and denies
they were questioning here like by the KGB,orthe risks to their own citizens.
Stasi, she was in a separate room. She was still"In mid-November, London's Sunday Times
there after i left at 24:00. I did not go toreported that Israel put defenses around its
Bethlehem, because I knew they were waiting forDimona nuclear reactor on "red alert" 30
me. So do what ever you can ,you are in a freetimes… given the threat of radioactive
country. Next court hearing Jan. 8."releases, does the plant's continued operation
Israel claims they cannot let Vanunu leave Isrealoutweigh the risks? Dimona...is the region's largest
for they believe he still has another secret to tellnuclear plant and sole producer of atomic
about their WMD Program in the Negev, whichweapons materials…Dimona is no
has never allowed international inspectors into andChernobyl. It generates only about 5 percent of
which Vanunu has not set into in over 21 years.that failed Soviet reactor's power. Still, the plant -
Leaving Israel is all Vanunu has desired since hisalong with its spent nuclear fuel, extracted
April 21, 2004 release from 18 years in prison forplutonium, and nuclear reprocessing waste - poses
telling the world the truth that Israel was alreadysignificant radiological hazards that a military strike
nuclear in 1986.[against it] could disperse into the
When I read Jerry Levin's article about Vanunu'senvironment…during the June 1967 war
Christmas Eve arrest in 2004, I became flamingIsrael shot down one of its own Mirage jet
mad for I could not comprehend how afighters when it strayed over the facility. In 1973,
democracy could deny anyone from worshipingDimona's defenders downed a wayward Libyan
any where and any how they desired. Oncivilian airliner heading for the reactor, killing 108
Christmas Eve 2004, I spent hours at mypeople. But the 1991 Gulf War upset whatever
computer emailing Mr. Bill O'Reilly-the champion ofsolace Israel could take from the past. Iraqi Scud
the "war on Christmas" and my local paper; themissiles hit Tel Aviv, and one came close to hitting
Orlando Sentinel, the New York Times and dozensDimona. Hizbullah's bombardment of northern
of other MSM outlets, in the naïve beliefIsrael in 2006 further demonstrated the country's
that the Fourth Estate reported the truth and hadvulnerability to missile attack…Dimona has
the best interests of America and democracy atproduced all the plutonium that Israel reasonably
heart.needs, and the reactor - one of the worlds oldest
How little I knew about how deluded I was back- has suffered minor mishaps and evident
then.deterioration, raising the specter of more serious
In the olden days of 2004, I had not yet takenaccidents."
my first of five journeys into Israel Palestine."For Caesar, peace is imposed by the might of
In 2004, I naively/ignorantly believed that theempire...Peace comes when the sovereignty of
USA Fourth Estate reported the truth and caredGod is acknowledged rather than Caesar's. For
about the best interests of America.people living under occupation or oppression,
I once thought the USA MSM would be enragedCaesar has become a symbol of the evil that
that a Christian from Jerusalem would be deniedcrushes and enslaves…In the kingdom of
the right to enter the Little Town of BethlehemGod, glory and sovereignty belong to God and not
and celebrate the birth of a little child namedto Caesar. God's peace is not achieved by
Jesus who was born, lived and died under Militarycrushing and eliminating others but by embracing
occupation.them. Caesar's empire is built on violence and
But I am not as naïve or uninformed as Imilitary might, God's empire is built on justice and
had once been.mercy. Caesar's peace enslaves and humiliates,
In 2007, the USA Fourth Estate ignored Vanunu'sGod's peace liberates and restores dignity to the
second Christmas arrest and also ignored thatoppressed. Caesar builds walls to separate people,
Israel:God tears down the walls of separation to join,
"Blocked clergy from reaching their churches andunify, and reconcile them one with the other.
Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem andCaesar's peace is exclusive for a chosen few,
elsewhere in the Holy Land…The IsraeliGod's peace is inclusive for all regardless of their
authorities are arbitrarily denying entry to clergyrace or ethnicity. Ultimately, peace will come not
and volunteers belonging to or working forfrom the Caesars and all those who trust in their
Christian institutions and service providers. Themilitary might and in the arrogance of their power
clergy being harassed and denied entry to Israelbut from the meek that put their trust in God. It
and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) joinis the meek who will inherit the earth. Peace will
tens of thousands of ordinary foreign passportcome from the labor, toil, and hard work of all
holders of Palestinian and non-Palestinian origin whothose who do not glory in their riches or in their
wish to be with their families, work or study, aspower but glory in their love and service of God
well as tourists and pilgrims…In addition,and in their love and acceptance of others. God's
there appears to be a new policy by Israel tomessage of peace still rings true, not from
refuse entry or visa extension for foreign,Annapolis that represents empire, but from the
primarily Western, Christian volunteers workingsmall town of Bethlehem, Palestine that still
with various Christian organizations here. This issuffers under occupation. The peace that the
affecting the viability of these organizations andCaesars of the world give is largely false and
the normal connection with their supporters anddeceptive, and it cannot last. Only the peace that
fellow Christians in the countries that contribute toGod gives, the peace that is based on justice and
the presence of these Christian workers. Theytruth will survive and prosper."- Sabeel Ecumenical
represent mainstream Christian and faith-basedLiberation Theology Center Jerusalem Statement
groups, such as the World Council of Churchesof December 18, 2007
and the American Friend's Service CommitteeWe are living George Orwell's nightmare in the
that advocate non- violence and brotherhood and21st century; for war is claimed to be the way to
are in no way a threat to the security ofpeace and nuclear weapons are promised as the
Israel…Israel has continued to pursue bothway to provide security.
policies and practices that fail to comply with"In Orwell's 1984…a state or alleged state
International Humanitarian Law."-Press Releaseof war is used to maintain total control over
Dec. 24, 2007, fromeveryone. Lies have replaced truth, and the media
The USA MSM totally ignored this abomination asserves as propagandist for the Ministry of Truth.
it has also ignored one of the most historic storiesThe meaning of words, such as 'freedom' has
of the 21st Century:been perverted. The attitude of 1984's
Vanunu's Freedom of Speech Trial in theall-powerful government is 'you are with us or
'democracy' of Israel; which is no democracy atagainst us.' - Paul Craig Roberts
all, unless you are a Jew.Yet, hope prevails in this season of reflection and
I contend that Vanunu is a prophet, and prophetscomprehends that all things are possible for "we
do not necessarily predict the future, but pointhave it in our power to begin the world again."-
out the disaster ahead, provoke people to thinkTom Paine.
about God and shine a brighter light onto whatHope is not an optimistic wish; hope is what fuels
has already been revealed. The ancient Hebrewpersistence and "Nothing in the world can take the
prophets were always ignored, ridiculed orplace of persistence. Talent will not. ... Genius will
demonized in their life times and so, I alsonot. ... Education will not. Persistence and
contend, that Vanunu qualifies as one.determination alone are omnipotent."- Calvin
The last time I crossed paths with Vanunu, was inCoolidge
July of this year directly in front of SaintThis civilian journalist has no hope in the USA
Stephen's Church in East Jerusalem and he toldGovernment or MSM to effect change, but I
me, "This is the very spot where they stoned tohave a flaming hope in the New Fourth Estate
death the first Christian martyr for freedom ofwho report truth on the World Wide Web and
speech."who are the muckrakers of the 21st century but
Prophets and martyrs have always agitated"we have yet to begin to IMAGINE the power
empire and empire has always sought to render aand potential of the Internet."-Charlie Rose, 2005
society subservient by dividing and thus conquer a"It's not dark yet, but it's getting there."-Bob
people.Dylan
Big Brother and the MSM in the USA label"The light shines in the darkness, and the
indigenous people throughout the Middle East whodarkness has not overcome it."-John 1:5
have risen up and are fighting for control of theirNor will it; as long as there is Net Neutrality and
own lives and homeland as terrorists and negatestruth, justice and peace seekers.
the terror America, the Industrial Military ComplexEveryone has the right to freedom of opinion and
and the inhumanity of military occupation hasexpression; this right includes freedom to hold
done unto them.opinions without interference and to seek, receive
The neo-con philosophy infused with the hereticaland impart information and ideas through any
Christian Zionist theology has cut off Americanmedia and regardless of frontiers.
Christians from the very root of what the Prince