Full massacre inquiry promised

Press, 25 September 1982, Page 1

Full massacre inquiry promised

NZPA Jerusalem Israel’s Defence Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, has pledged that Israel will make a full inquiry into the Beirut massacre of Palestinians last week. There will be no cover-up, he says. In an emotional address to parents of soldiers who died in the June 6 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, Mr Sharon gave a “solemn promise” of a full investigation into the killings of men, women, and children at two refugee camps. “If any mistake or poor judgment was made in the tragic events in Beirut, it

will be brought out in the inquiry because there will be no cover-up.” said Mr Sharon. Several parents shouted “murderer” and “monster” as the Minister spoke and were removed from the amphitheatre south of Tel Aviv, where the ceremony was held. But a majority of parents shouted down the demonstrators. Mr Sharon, the architect of the Israeli campaign in Lebanon, has admitted that Israeli officers allowed Lebanese militiamen to enter the Palestinian camps. He did not specify what form of

investigation would be held. ■ The president of Israel's Supreme Court would head the inquiry into the massacre, Israel Radio said. A government official confirmed that the Cabinet had been summoned by Mr Begin to discuss a format for an investigation. The meeting would ap : prove the appointment of the Supreme Court president, Mr Yitzhak Kahan, to head the inquiry, it said. Mr Begin has come under increasing pressure from' members of his coalition

Government and the Israeli public to set up an independent inquiry. He was forced to relent on his opposition to any inquiry after coalition colleagues threatened to reconsider their participation in his Government. He had said he opposed an inquiry because “Israel was not involved in the tragedy and there was nothing for Israel to investigate.” President Yitzhak Navon, who seldom intervenes in political matters, also urged an Israeli inquiry and yesterday urged the Lebanese president, Mr Amin Gemayel, to try to punish the

militiamen believed to be responsible for the massacre. The United States peace mediator, Mr Philip Habib, arrived in Jerusalem early yesterday and conferred with Mr Sharon on a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Beirut before the arrival of a multinational force. Mr Habib, who arranged the evacuation of Palestinian guerrillas and Syrian forces from Beirut last month, was to meet Mr Begin and the Foreign Minister, Mr Yitzhak Shamir, as the American. French, and Italian force arrived. Further reports, page 8