Beirut massacre

Press, 9 February 1983, Page 8

Beirut massacre

Mr Begin was criticised for acting “indifferently” during the massacre, but the inquiry had not recommended that he resign, the radio said. ' The report had called Mr Begin responsible because of his “indifference” and failure to take note of the decision to introduce the militiamen into the camps. Israeli Army radio said the report had recommended that Mr Sharon “draw conclusions,” and that if he did hot then Mr Begin should exercise his right to dismiss him. “Drawing conclusions” is Israeli political jargon for resigning. The inquiry, headed by the Israeli Chief Justice, Mr Justice Kahan, said that it did not accept Mr Begin’s evidence that he was totally unaware of the dangers of

sending Falangists into the camps of their Palestinian enemies. “We are unable to accept the position of the Prime Minister that nobody imagined that what happened was liable to happen." the report said. For two days after the Falangists entered the refugee camps Mr Begin had showed absolutely no interest in the action, it said. The report spoke of Mr Begin’s indifference and said that his lack of involvement “cast on him a certain degree of responsibility.” The commission accused Mr Sharon, who is 54, of making a grave mistake. “As a politician responsible for Israel’s security affairs and as a Minister who took an active part in directing the political and military moves in the war in Lebanon, it was the. duty of the Defence Minister to take into account all the reason-

able considerations of having the Falangists enter the camps ..." It said that Mr Sharon had disregarded the risk that Falangists might commit atrocities and failed in his humanitarian obligation to ensure that this did not happen.

The report accused the Chief-of-Staff, LieutenantGeneral Rafael Eitan of grave omissions in carrying out his duty and said that General Saguy was not fit to continue as director of Military Intelligence. It also censured MajorGeneral Amir Drori. Israel’s front-line commander in Beirut. At one stage General Drori ordered a halt to the two-day Falangist operation but was overruled by General Eitan.

The report said that General Drori should have got the Falangists out of the camps.