Historical Back Ground of the Sabra and Shatila Carnage - Essay Example

Introduction: Sabra is a poor neighborhood in the southern area of West Beirut. It is adjacent to the a United Nation's Relief and Work Agency's Refugee Camp set up for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) established since 1949. Over years the population of the poor neighbourhood and the refugee camp had intermingled giving a common name to UNRWA refugee camp as "Sabra and Shatila Refugee Camp". In September 1982, a tragic incident of mass killing took place during the wee hours of 16th September that lasted around 62 hours well into the daylight of 18th September! The killing was carried by activist of the "Phalangist Party" or Falangists, a Secular Political Organization but greatly supported by the Marnote Christian community. The killings are considered the worst atrocity of Lebanon's 15-year civil war and perhaps during the entire Middle East conflict [1] The Sabra and Shatila Massacre is considered a forgotten incident in the western media. [2] How ever the incident is considered to be a controvercial issue with the Palestinian, Arab and International Muslims, alleging Israel to be the main culprit behind the tragic incident, acusing the Jewish State of Master minding the Israel event incidents. Israel on the contrary partially agrees of its link with the incident but denying any knowledge of a mass murder during the time of its procession clearing itself with the direct massacre of the refugee camp inhabitants. History of the Incident: On August 23 1982, Bachir Gemayel, president of the Phalangist Party, a Christian and very popular mong the forces of Maronites was elected as the President of Lebanon by their National Assembly. Israel supported Bachir and considered the maronite forces to be the counter balance to the PLO and thus the relationship between Israel and Maronites became stronger, with the Falangists in particular, by the passage of time. How ever, nine days before he was due to take oath, Bachir was assasinated in a bomb detonation attack at the head quarters of the Phalangists party on 14th September 1982. The attack was alleged by the Falangists to be the work of PLO activists which later became a misperception as investigations and confessions later on reveald a Syrian hand in the assasination. The Massacre Mr.Arial Sharon, who is considered the master mind behind the incident, declared that there were 2000 PLO activists in the refugee camp. Sabra and Shatila was surrounded by tanks and and soldiers with check points to monitor entry and exit of people. Despite of the check points around 150 Falangists, motivated with the feeling revenge after the assasination of their leader, entered the Sabra and Shatila Refugee camp alleging it to be a sanctuary and breeding nest for the PLO activists and aiming to wipe out their presence iniatiated. -these fighters are alleged to inserted by Israel- A plan of defence Minsiter Ariel Sharon [3] According to witnesses, a carnage of mass murder, rape, desecration of corpses & demolition of buildings with the residents still inside. The "genocide" as discussed above cotinued for 62 hours from 16th September going on to Saturday morning and had resulted in casualties speculated to be in 750-3400 estimated by various sources. IDF intelligence suggests a death toll to be between 700-800 persons [4] Dr. Ang Swee Chai, an eye witness to the Massacre reveals in her book " From Beirut to Jerusalem: "The truth hit me painfully...Besides being shot dead, people was tortured before being killed. They were beaten brutally, electric wires were tied round limbs, eyes were dug out, women were raped, and often more than once, children were dynamited alive. Looking at all the broken bodies, I began to think that those who had died quickly were the lucky ones. Extract from p67 of the book "From Beirut to Jerusalem". [5] United Nations Condemns On Dec 16 1982 United Nations Organization's General Assembly condemned the massacre terming it as an act of "Genocide" The General Assembly, Recalled its resolution 95 (I) of 11 December 1946, It also recalled its resolution 96 (I) of 11 December 1946, which affirms genocide as a crime under international law which the civilized world condemns and calls for punishment of any one committing it, whether private individuals, public officials or statesmen, and whether the crime is committed on religious, racial, political or any other grounds while referring to the provisions of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 1948,6/ The General Assemble also recalled provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,2/ [6] Israel's Involvement in the Incident The sympethisers for Arab world staunchly suspect involvement of IDF forces while the genocide was taking place how ever Israel rubbishes these ideas by saying it had no knowledge of the incident at the time of its taking place. This is hard to believe with the fact that Israel army surrounded the area while the massacre happened. Arial Sharon who later became the Prime Minister of Israel in the 2000s held the post of Defence Minister when the incident took place. [7] Ariel Sharon Resignation and Kahan Commission Ariel Sharon resigned from this post when an Israeli Inquiry commission headed by the Chief Justice of Israel, Justice Vitzchak Kahan investigated the incident and suggested involvement of Ariel Sharon in the incident. The Commission, known as the "Kahan Commission" also included Chief Justice Judge Aharo Barak and Major General Yona Efrat as members. The Kahan Commission was formed by the then Prime Minister of Israel Menachem Begin after being pressurised by the General Public of Israel in a large demostration rally taking place in Tel Aviv. [8] Kahan Commisions findings and recommendations The commission blamed flangists for the carnage simultaneously noting several flaws in the Israeli Political and Military leaders gave following suggestions to the State head. [9] The Prime Minister was aqcuitted from the charge of personal involvement in the Massacre how ever being the head of the Parliament he was to be held responsible for the Israel's link to the mass murder. The Defence Minister Ariel Sharon was held responsible for ignoring the possibility of a Human Massacre by approving entrance of Falangists in the refugee camp and later taking no measure to thwart the threat of mass killing. The commission recommended removing of Sharon from his post which was duly accepted by the Prime Minister and Sharon was dismissed. The then Chief of Army Staff Rafael Eitan was found guilty of not taking steps to prevent a possible massacre nor tried to stop when it started. How ever suggestion for his removal was not made as Eitan was already ending his term as the Army Chief. Head of Intelligence Bureau, Yehoshua Sagi was found guilty of indfference and disregard with respect to Falangists dangeorus activities. It recommended that he must be removed from his services and Sagi was dismissed. Commander of IDF trops in Beirut was transferred to a non commanding position for 3 years OC Norther Comman Amir Drori was dismissed after being found guilty of breaching of responsibility for taking any action connected to danger expected from the Phalangists. Ariel Sharon -War Criminal In a notice of motion in 2001 in British house of common applauding the facts and figures produced in the BBC production "Paronama" the parliament demanded a trial on Arial Sharon who was then serving as the Israeli Prime Minister. The motion said: "That this House congratulates the BBC for Panorama's recent in-depth analysis of the massacres in Sabra and Shatila during the war in Lebanon in 1982; notes that following the massacres an internal Israeli commission of inquiry forced the resignation of the then Israeli Defense Minister, Ariel Sharon; believes there is sufficient prima facie evidence to indicate that Ariel Sharon, now the Israeli Prime Minister, should be tried for war crimes; and calls upon the international community to ensure that he is duly charged at the earliest possible opportunity." [10] The guardian in its 25th January 2002 online issue reports assassination of a potential witness to the involvement of Ariel Sharon in a case launched in Belgium regarding the massacre. Elie Hobeka a Lebanese warlord and involved in killing of 1000 Palestinians in the incident a few days before his assassination revealed he would give evidence in the Belgium case against Sharon [11] Dr. Ang Swee Chai in her book "From Beirut to Jerusalem" writes a suspicion regarding the attackers of the refugee camp and their relationship with Israel as follows: "Survivors interviewed on 22 Sep reported that many of the soldiers who did the killing did not speak Arabic and Israeli newspapers (in Hebrew) and Israeli food rations were found left behind. A young boy, Munir, who was left for dead under a heap of 27 bodies confirmed that he has seen both Israelis and Phalange murdering people, when he was brought to Gaza Hospital on 17 Sept. (Src: 'From Beirut To Jerusalem' pgs 61, 69 & 71) [12] Factors involved in the Massacre The above narration of incidents and manner in which the massacre was carried out reveals a motive of revenge from the Falangists upon the killing of their leader Bachir Gemayel. The emotions of revenge and hatred was well chanellised by the Israel political and military set up to get rid of PLO activists who were alleged to be working against the Israeli Interests and carrying out potential damage and causing threat to the integrity of the State of Israel. Weather Israel wanted a mass massacre of the innocents of the camp is another matter and should be discussed in a different collection of texts but the political motive of Israel to damage PLO by hitting out on their sanctuaries resulted in what is considered to be one big massace of Arab Muslims by the state of Israel. Story Of survivors of Sabra and Shatila Massacre Survivors say that the killers went from house to house, threatening to blow up buildings if the residents did not come out. The survivors reported overhearing the Phalanges telling one another to use axes to kill their victims, because the sound of gunfire would alert others to their fate. [13] Um Ahmed is a living example of the survivors from the tragic massacre that lost his husband, 4 sons, Nizar, Shadi, Farid, Nidal and 1 daughter. The youngest son was shot with three bullets in his head. Um Ahmad who belonged to the town of Safad that lies at the border with lebanon.reveals that a malatiaman carrying an assault rifle entered in his house, bundled every one in one room and opened fire. Only she and her two daughters Suad and Nuhad survived; Nuhad escaped by hiding her self in a kitchen cupboard! [14] Belgian Trial upon Arial Sharon committing Genocide Soon after Arial Sharon became the prime minister of Israel after winning the elections of 2001, a court case was logged against him by the relatives and near ones' of Sabra and Shatila Massacre's victims while directly blaming him for being engaged in the fatal massacre of naive migrants. This court case was logged in the Belgian Supreme Court, who passed on the ruling while stating that "Arial Sharon might be accused under this allegation". [15] Belgian Supreme Court passed this ruling in the mid of February 2003. Later on in March 2003, Arial Sharon was ruled out of these above stated charges by a Belgian High Court and he was released of all the war crimes. Court also dismissed the previous case against him. [15] Conclusion: After discussing all the aspects and historical back ground of the Sabra and Shatila Carnage ; it is to be noted that although the incident is condemned in various media and political stages, the UN and also brought to the court of justice in Belgium; how ever peace no justice is being done with the victims of the massacre. Though Israel openly denies of having any information about the massacre being taking place at the time of its happening but ground realities negates Israel's stance. The world while solving Middle East crises repeatedly talks about peace; how ever we must realize that no Peace is guaranteed without legitimate Justice which is being deprived to the Victims of Sabra and Shatila Massacre incident. Since no justice is provided yet; therefore the Arab community still considers it and many incidences like the one discussed to be an obstacle in the Middle East peace process. Therefore it is necessary that plights of the poor Palestinians should be heard upon and all the grievance of the victims must be solved which would indicate to the victims that the international community is concerned over the human rights violation issues and crimes and against humanity. Only then Peace can prevail! Works Cited Page [1] BBC -Flash Back-Sabra and Shatila Massacre available online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1779713.stm [2] 20 years after -Sabra and Shatila-The forgotten Massacre- available online at http://www.counterpunch.org/thomson0918.html [3] BBC -Flash Back-Sabra and Shatila Massacre available online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1779713.stm [4] Palestinian Facts-What happened at the Sabra and Shatila Refugee camps available online at http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_1967to1991_sabra_shatila.php [5] From Beirut to Jerusaelm-Eye Witness to Sabra Shatila Massacre-Dr. Ang Swee Chai available online at http://www.inminds.co.uk/from-beirut-to-jerusalem.html [6] Israeli Politics available online at -The UN perception of Sabra and Shatila Massacre http://www.palestinemonitor.org/israelipoli/The%20UN_0n_Sabra_Shatila.htm [7] Sabra and Shatila Murder-Israel News available online at http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3284679,00.html [8] Sabra and Shatila Murder-Israel News available online at http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3284679,00.html [9] Sabra and Shatila Murder-Israel News available online at http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3284679,00.html [10] House of Commons Wednesday 21 November 2001 Notices of Motions available online at http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm/cmedm11121e01.htm [11] "Sharon witness blown up in Beirut"" by Brian Whitaker and Ian Black. The Guardian, Friday January 25, 2002 available online at http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,639157,00.html [12] From Beirut to Jerusaelm-Eye Witness to Sabra Shatila Massacre-Dr. Ang Swee Chai available online at http://www.inminds.co.uk/from-beirut-to-jerusalem.html [13] BBC -Flash Back-Sabra and Shatila Massacre available online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1779713.stm [14] BBC-Sabra and Shatila 20 years on-available online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2255902.stm [15] "Sharon witness blown up in Beirut"" by Brian Whitaker and Ian Black. The Guardian, Friday January 25, 2002 available online at http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,639157,00.html [16] Sabra-Shatila case proceeding at the Belgian court available online at http://www.sabra-shatila.be/english/ Read More