-Caveat Lector- U.S.-Based Rights Group Backs Inquiry of Sharon http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/nm/20010623/pl/rights_israel_dc_1.html Saturday June 23 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A leading U.S.-based human rights group on Saturday called for a criminal investigation of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's role in the massacre of hundreds of Palestinians during Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon. ``There is abundant evidence that war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed on a wide scale in the Sabra and Shatila massacre, but to date, not a single individual has been brought to justice,'' said Hanny Megally, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa division. The British Broadcasting Corp. aired a report last week examining whether Sharon could be put on trial for the killing of hundreds of Palestinians by Israeli-allied Lebanese Christian militiamen at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut in 1982. Israeli officials have accused the BBC of anti-Semitism and taking an anti-Israeli editorial slant in its reporting. Survivors of the massacre filed a case in Brussels on Monday, accusing Sharon of crimes against humanity. The case was brought under a 1993 Belgian law which allows war criminals to be tried in Belgium regardless of their nationality or where the crimes were committed. In its statement, Human Rights Watch urged President Bush to discuss the matter with Sharon during their scheduled meeting at the White House on Tuesday, and urge him to cooperate with any investigation. The group said the United States had a substantial interest in the case because the Israeli occupation of West Beirut followed written U.S. assurances that Palestinians remaining there would be safe, as part of an arrangement regarding the evacuation of Palestine Liberation Organization forces. ISRAELI INQUIRY FOUND SHARON INDIRECTLY AT FAULT A 1983 state inquiry found Sharon, then Israel's defense minister, indirectly responsible for the killing of hundreds of Palestinian men, women and children at Sabra and Shatila. The Israeli army allowed Israeli-backed Christian Phalangist militiamen to enter the camp, ostensibly to search for Palestinian gunmen, after the assassination of Phalangist leader Bashir Gemayel, the Lebanese president-elect. Sharon's aides insist that he and other Israeli commanders never anticipated the massacre would happen. Human Rights Watch said the Israeli state investigation could not substitute for proceedings in a criminal court in Israel or elsewhere that would bring to justice those responsible for the killings. Megally said the Lebanese government should also examine the role of militia leaders like Elie Hobeika, who carried out the killings. ``But the Israeli government also has a responsibility to conduct an investigation into the actions of its own high officials who knew ... that atrocities were likely to occur and did not act promptly to stop them once they knew the killing had started,'' he added. Israeli military intelligence estimated that between 700 and 800 people were killed in the refugee camps over three days. The victims included infants, children, women and the elderly. Sharon leaves Israel on Sunday for talks with Bush. He is due to stop over in London for discussions with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
