The Guardian reports that the BBC apologized to Israel in writing for the way it handled coverage of Mordechai Vanunu (pictured). In exchange, correspondent Simon Wilson, who was the network’s Jerusalem bureau chief, will be allowed to return to Israel. After Vanunu was released from prison in 2004, Wilson interviewed the former nuclear technician, then refused to cooperate with Israeli censors, and smuggled tapes of his interview out of the country. Israel responded by refusing to extend Wilson’s work permit and banning him from entering the country.
The climbdown has angered some BBC journalists, who say it will compromise their work in Israel.
The agreement was to have remained confidential, but the BBC unintentionally posted details on its website before removing them a few hours later.
This is not the first time pressure forced the BBC to backpedal over Vanunu.
