Sharon should face trial over massacres, British TV series
Israel-Regional, Politics, 6/19/2001

The first TV station of the BBC has challenged the Israeli protests and screened a panoramic program on Saturday evening under the title " the accused " which shed light of the responsibility of the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon for the Sabra and Shatilla massacres (in Lebanon) in which some 1000 Palestinian refugees were killed.

The TV screened " terrifying scenes " for the victims of the massacre, coupled with a detailed commentary explaining the role played by Sharon in causing the massacre and statements by several international lawyers and consultants who held unanimous views that the case of the Sabra and Shatilla massacres (committed by the Israeli forces in the Palestinian camps in Sabra and Shatilla in Lebanon in 1982) necessitate filing cases against those were responsible for them, because what had happened in Sabra and Shatilla should result in trying those who are responsible for killing the innocent civilians of elderly, women and children.

Lawyers who were invited to comment on the two massacres and discuss their legal aspects agreed that one who gives instructions to commit such crimes is considered of greater responsibility to this matter than those who carry out the instructions.

Judge Richard Gold-stone, the former attorney general at the International Court specialized in war crimes in former Yugoslavia stressed that Sharon was familiar with the dangerous situation in the region used to be under the control of the Israeli forces and giving instructions ( at that time) permitting armed men to enter into Sabra and Shatilla puts him under legal responsibility in his being the Israeli defense minister and in continued contacts with the army officials and leaders and therefore he has to be brought before the court.

Judge Gold- stone added that Sharon's failure to avoid what had happened in Sabra and Shatilla brings to him unavoided legal risks that he has to run.

The main commentator of the BBC program said that the Israeli army officer who was a leader to the operation of invading Beirut is now the director general of the Israeli defense ministry, while Sharon who was a defense minister during the Sabra and Shatilla massacres has become since 4 months a prime minister in Israel.

The commentator added that Sharon visited Washington after he assumed power in Israel and he was warmly welcomed by the US President.

The commentator also noted that "panorama" program under the title of the "accused" was exposed to a strong criticism by Israel because it had shed light on the role played by Sharon in the Sabra and Shatilla massacres in which hundreds of civilians were killed 20 years ago.

Previous Stories:
  Israel prevents an African delegation from visiting Jerusalem   (6/15/2001)
  Israeli threats against Syria and Lebanon   (6/12/2001)
  Israel held at bay in UN for its settlement policy   (6/11/2001)

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