[News] Sabra, Shatilla residents feel cheated

[Anti-Imperialist News]

Friday, January 06, 2006
Sabra, Shatilla residents feel cheated that Sharon will die naturally
By Rym Ghazal and Mohammed Zaatari
Daily Star staff



BEIRUT/SIDON: Palestinian refugees across Lebanon greeted the news of 
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon battle with death with great joy 
as a "death long overdue" but didn't expect any changes to their 
case. As the news poured in of Sharon's rush to the hospital on 
Wednesday night, Palestinian refugees across the camps stayed glued 
to the TV following up diligently on his health.

"Once they announce Sharon's death, nothing will change for the 
Palestinians as the Israeli government that is set against 
Palestinians will live on with a new leader," said Sulieman 
Abdel-Hadi, secretary of the People's Committee in the Sabra and 
Shatilla refugee camps.

Hadi, like many Palestinian refugees in the Sabra Shatila camps, 
bears a "personal" grudge against Sharon, as they have been directly 
affected by his rule.

In 1982 the then-Israeli Defense Minister Sharon ordered Phalangist 
militiamen into the Sabra and Shatilla camps, who under Israeli 
supervision, carried out a massacre of some 800 people, mostly 
civilians, over a period of two nights and a day.

"I lost my mother and brother," said Hadi, who recalls scenes of 
"bodies and blood" every time he sees Sharon on TV.

"What I hate is how they turn him into a hero for pulling out of 
Gaza, like he had any other choice? He did it to protect himself and 
his soldiers," said Hadi.

Children as young as 6 were celebrating Sharon's health crisis and 
were imitating a "dead Sharon" as they played in the streets of the 
Sabra and Shatilla camps.

"Sharon killed many people and deserves to die painfully," said 
10-year-old Tarek Attawi, who stayed up late at night watching the 
news on Sharon's health.

"I am happy he is dying, and can't wait to hear when they finally 
announce his death," said Attawi.

Sentiments of hate toward the "butcher" Sharon were common in the 
Sabra and Shatilla camps, with many of their residents still carrying 
"physical evidence" of his assaults.

"It's a shame he didn't die by our hands and didn't suffer," said 
Fatima Saed Abdel-Hadi, who was shot in her leg and stomach during 
the Sabra and Shatilla massacres and now walks with permanent limp.

"I am sure now an even worse leader will replace him and our 
struggles will continue," said Abdel-Hadi, who also lost several 
family members in the massacre.

But Abdel-Hadi, like other Palestinians interviewed, said they felt 
"cheated" that Sharon wasn't inflicted a more painful death "by the 
Palestinian's hands" instead of a natural one, but that nonetheless 
"Sharon will get what he deserved."

"He escaped punishment in his life. But he won't in his death, as God 
didn't forget his crimes," she said.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon's biggest camp, in Ain al-Hilweh, which was 
destroyed by Sharon in 1982, a large portrait of the late Palestinian 
leader Yasser Arafat welcomes visitors at the gate with a large 
smile, a smile of satisfaction some said about the death of the one 
some believe "poisoned Arafat to death."

Coffee vendor Abu Tareq, who clinked his cups with joy, said he is 
sad about the way Sharon died.

"I wish he was hit by a bomb that would have shredded him to pieces 
the way he did to us in Sabra and Shatilla, or that he was killed 
with the detonation of explosives that would have turned him into a 
pile of flesh," he said.

Abu Khaled, who waited for the announcement of Sharon's death, said 
he and his colleagues were preparing for celebrations.

On the agenda, the distribution of sweets and the dancing of the 
Palestinian traditional dabke dance were being planned to mark "the 
death of one big terrorist."

School-bus drivers also expressed their joy, honking indefinitely 
while students waved from the windows of the bus, cheering and 
holding up the sign of victory with their fingers.

Twelve-year-old Ayad Azzam said he hoped that Sharon would die 
tomorrow so that classes get suspended for the demonstrations being 
planned for in celebration

Members of the Aqsa Martyrs and followers of Palestinian official 
Mounir Maqdah congratulated each others, exchanging kisses and embraces.

Maqdah said: "Sharon's end is dedicated to the Palestinian people 
that resisted in the face of this executioner."

He added: "The steadfastness of the intifada killed this terrorist 
Sharon who deserved the death penalty a hundred times," hoping that 
the absence of Sharon would bring a good year for the Arab nation.

As the refugees awaited news of Sharon's death, one of them said that 
already many feel "some peace."

Hajje Haniyye said "the martyrs of Sabra and Shatila will sleep in 
peace today for the first time."

[]

<http://www.dailystar.com.lb/#>Copyright (c) 2006 The Daily Star



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