ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mary and Nick Eoloff first met their adopted son at Ashkelon Prison near Tel Aviv. A steel grate separated them from Mordechai Vanunu. Now 48, Vanunu is due for release from an Israeli prison next year after serving 18 years on a treason conviction for leaking Israeli nuclear secrets to a London newspaper. Vanunu said he did it to publicize Israel's nuclear weapons program, which had been an official secret.
The Eoloffs adopted Vanunu under the mistaken belief that he would then gain U.S. citizenship, which they figured might help win his freedom. They later found out that the United States confers citizenship only on adoptees younger than 16.
But the Eoloffs remain undeterred. Five years and nine prison visits later, the unique adoption will be part of a British Broadcasting Corp. documentary about Vanunu that debuts Sunday at the International Human Rights Film Festival in London.
The Eoloffs' beige townhouse in St. Paul has become the improbable vortex of a worldwide campaign to free Vanunu. Peace activists in Norway, Italy, Sweden and Australia hold regular vigils on his behalf.
The Eoloffs "have become Mordechai's link to the outside world and a great source of support and love," said Felice Cohen-Joppa of Tucson, Ariz., coordinator of the U.S. Campaign to Free Mordechai Vanunu, which helps pay the Eoloffs' travel expenses.
While working as a technician at Israel's top-secret nuclear reactor in Dimona, Vanunu took dozens of pictures and smuggled them out. He then gave the pictures and descriptions of what he said were dozens of nuclear weapons to the London Sunday Times in 1986.
Lured into a trap by a female Mossad secret service agent in Europe and whisked back to Israel, Vanunu was found guilty of espionage and sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Israeli officials have said Vanunu's disclosures did more damage to Israel's security than the deeds of any other person. Israel continues to deny it has nuclear weapons.
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/5405400.htm
