Interviewer of Vanunu Arrested by Israeli Police

Israeli police have arrested the British journalist to whom Israeli whistle-blower Mordechai Vanunu disclosed details about the nation’s alleged nuclear weapons program in a 1986 interview, security officials said Wednesday.

The journalist, Peter Hounam, was arrested in Israel, but no details were given because of a gag order, Israel Radio said.

Vanunu was released April 21 after serving a 17 1/2-year prison sentence for espionage and treason.

Hounam was in Israel to greet Vanunu and prepare a documentary about his case for the British Broadcasting Corp.

A BBC spokeswoman in London said the broadcaster was “very concerned” about Hounam’s arrest.

The spokeswoman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, declined to answer any questions about Hounam, including where the journalist was arrested or whether he had met with Vanunu since the Israeli’s release.

Under conditions imposed on Vanunu with his release, he is not allowed to give interviews or meet with foreigners.

It was not known whether those restrictions were related to Hounam’s arrest.

In 1986, Vanunu gave the London Sunday Times information and photographs from Israel’s top-secret Dimona nuclear facility.

The newspaper published an extensive article under Hounam’s byline that led experts to determine that Israel had a large arsenal of nuclear weapons.