[News] 16 September, 22 Years after Sabra and Shatila

[News at freedomarchives.org]

BADIL Resource Center for
Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights

Press Release, 15 September 2004 (E/31/04)


They say 9/11 changed the world. What about
September 16?

September 16 commemorates the 1982 Sabra and
Shatila massacre, the day almost a quarter of a
century ago, when up to 3,500 civilians, mainly
Palestinian refugees, died in Beirut, Lebanon
refugee camps.

In 1982, Ariel Sharon was Defense Minister of
Israel.  An Israeli commission of inquiry found
that he and other Israelis were responsible for
the massacre.  Now Ariel Sharon is Prime
Minister of Israel.

Under the Universal Jurisdiction Law of Belgium,
Ariel Sharon was charged in relation to the
Sabra and Shatila massacre.  The case failed
when Belgium was forced to abandon its law
through U.S. and other pressure.  The law simply
put Belgian law into agreement with the Geneva
Conventions something expected from every state
that is a signatory to the Conventions.  The
Geneva Conventions call for prosecution or
extradition of anyone guilty of crimes against
humanity.  Among others, Amnesty International
and Human Rights Watch have supported the
concept of universal jurisdiction.

Others who had a role in the massacre remain in
positions of power both in Israel and Lebanon.

Things haven't changed much for the
Palestinians.  Inquiries into the massacre were
not released.  Most massacre perpetrators remain
at large.  Nothing has been done to compensate
the victims.

The killing with impunity continues, especially
for Palestinians.  In the occupied West Bank and
Gaza Strip more than 3,100 Palestinians have
been killed by the Israeli military and Israel
settlers in the past four years. In the same
period almost 1,000 Israeli civilians and
members of the Israeli security forces have been
killed by Palestinians.

Palestinian refugees in Lebanon remain unable to
own land and are barred from more than 70 types
of work.  The Palestinians of West Bank and Gaza
remain locked in a land which is growing smaller
by the day with illegal takeovers of land and
the building of the wall by Israel.

All Palestinians who lost their homes in 1948
and through the years because of Israeli actions
have been denied the right of return.

Some say the world changed on September 11, 2001
but on 16 September, 22 years after the Sabra
and Shatila massacre, not much has changed for
the Palestinians.
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