Mordecai Vanunu, former Israeli nuclear technician imprisoned for 18 years for divulging Israeli nuclear secrets to the world, was released from Ashkelon's Shikma prison Wednesday and instead of taking up residence in a Jaffa apartment he went directly to the Anglican church in Jerusalem in what some see as a bid for asylum. Vanunu angered the Israeli government in 1986 when he went public with what he knew about Israel's nuclear arms program. Israel, backed by its ally, the United States, has never confirmed Vanunu's claims, but it is generally believed that Israel has an extensive nuclear arms system as part of its defense against nearby Muslim countries and terrorist organizations that have sworn to destroy Israel and return the lands of Palestine to Muslim control. At the time of his disclosures, Vanunu was kidnapped from Rome and returned to Israel by the Israeli special forces. He stood trial and was convicted and sentenced to 18 years in prison for compromising Israel's defenses. Under the terms of his release Wednesday, he was supposed to refrain from making any mention of Israel's nuclear capabilities or to talk with anyone who might compromise Israeli security. Instead he has continued to call for the Israeli government to open all of its nuclear programs to international inspection. The Israeli government says that he still has information that could compromise Israeli security.

Vanunu, who was an Orthodox Jew, converted to Anglicanism while in prison. It is not known how long he plans to stay with the Jerusalem Anglicans.

For the full story: Vanunu Takes Refuge in Cathedral.