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=== Gathering evidence ===
Vanunu graduated from Ben-Gurion University in 1985 with a BA in philosophy and geography.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fleming|first=Eileen|title=Third Intifada/Uprising: NONVIOLENT But With Words Sharper Than A Two-Edged Sword - Memoirs of a Nice Irish American 'Girl's' Life in Occupied Territory|publisher=Outskirts Press|date=5 February 2007|isbn=978-1-4327-0254-0|page=104}}</ref> In early 1985, he lost his job following a mass layoff of workers due to government cutbacks, but his [[trade union|labor union]] won him his job back. After he resumed working at the facility, Vanunu secretly smuggled in a camera and covertly took 57 photographs. He quit his job on 27 October 1985, due to repeated efforts by his superiors to transfer him to tasks that were less sensitive than his previous positions at the facility. He was given severance pay of $7,500 and a reference letter praising his work and describing his departure as a layoff.<ref>Hounam, p. 39</ref><ref>Cochran, Thomas B. [http://docs.nrdc.org/nuclear/files/nuc_10149601a_174.pdf The Relevance of Mordechai Vanunu Disclosures to Israel's National Security] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927225858/http://docs.nrdc.org/nuclear/files/nuc_10149601a_174.pdf |date=27 September 2014 }}, nrdc.org; accessed 23 February 2017.</ref>
On 15 April 2015, The National Security Archive of George Washington University published documents corroborating Vanunu's statements regarding the Dimona [[Negev Nuclear Research Center]]. The archived documents detail the discovery of Israel's nuclear deceptions, debates over Israel's lack of candor and efforts to pressure the Israelis to answer key questions about the Dimona facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thearabdailynews.com/2015/04/17/u-s-documents-collaborate-mordechai-vanunu-re-israeli-wmd|title=U.S. Documents Corroborate Mordechai Vanunu RE: Israeli WMD|work=The Arab Daily News|date=17 April 2015 |access-date=15 June 2015}}</ref>
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Around 200 supporters and a smaller number of counter-demonstrators attended the conference.<ref name="guardian.co.uk"/> He indicated a desire to completely dissociate himself from Israel, initially refusing to speak in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], and planning to move to Europe or the United States<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.serve.com/vanunu/20060113jakarta.html|title=Discussion with a Friend from JAKARTA (letter from Vanunu)|publisher=The Mordechai Vanunu Website|date=13 January 2006|access-date=12 April 2006|archive-date=26 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226114359/https://www.serve.com/vanunu/20060113jakarta.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> as soon as the Israeli government would permit him to do so.
Shortly before his scheduled release, Vanunu remained defiant under interrogation by the security service, Shin Bet. In recordings of the interview made public after his release, he is heard saying "I am neither a traitor nor a spy, I only wanted the world to know what was happening." He also said, "We don't need a [[Jewish state]]. There needs to be a Palestinian state. Jews can, and have lived anywhere, so a Jewish State is not necessary."<ref name=Vanunu_defiant>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3640989.stm|title=Vanunu defiant ahead of release|publisher=BBC|date=19 April 2004|access-date=3 October 2007}}</ref> "Vanunu is a difficult and complex person. He remains stubbornly, admirably uncompromisingly true to his principles, and is willing to pay the price," said ''Ha'aretz'' newspaper in 2008.<ref name="haaretz.com">Yossi Melman [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/975302.html Haaretz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915234452/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/975302.html |date=15 September 2009 }} "It is time to free Vanunu", haaretz.com, 16 April 2008.</ref>
Following his release, Vanunu moved to an apartment in [[Jaffa]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2905585,00.html|script-title=he:המרגל מרדכי ואנונו: "אני גאה ומאושר, אין יותר סודות"|publisher=www.ynet.co.il|trans-title=The spy Mordechai Vanunu: "I am proud and happy, there are no more secrets"|author=Hanan Greenberg|author2=Shmulik Hadad|newspaper=Ynet |date=21 April 2004|language=he}}</ref> After the address was published in the media, he decided to live in [[St. George's Cathedral, Jerusalem|St. George's Cathedral]] in [[Jerusalem]]. He regularly receives visitors and sympathizers and has repeatedly defied the conditions of his release by giving interviews to foreign journalists.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/04/07/1112815667418.html 'I am still here', Vanunu reminds Israel], theage.com.au, 7 April 2005.</ref>
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