An Israeli court has sentenced nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu to a new six-month term for unauthorised contacts with the media.
Israel has curbed Mr Vanunu's movements and personal contacts since he left prison, arguing that he could divulge new details on his past work at the Dimona nuclear reactor.
Mr Vanunu denies that, saying he only wants to pursue a peaceful anti-nuclear campaign.
Jerusalem Magistrates Court said in its ruling that it would hold off on jailing Vanunu to allow him to appeal.
Convicted by the Jerusalem Magistrates Court in April of violating the ban by speaking to foreign media, the 52 year-old said: 'All I want is to be free, to leave the country.'
The court found him guilty of giving a slew of interviews to international media outlets over the past three years.
In 1986, Mr Vanunu was sentenced to 18 years behind bars after telling the Sunday Times newspaper about his work as a technician at Dimona.
The disclosures all but blew away the secrecy around an assumed Israeli atomic arsenal.
Since his release, Mr Vanunu has denied officials' charges that he has more classified information that he could divulge if allowed to emigrate.
