Global Policy Forum

Try Sharon, Says War Crime Judge

Print

By Katherine Butler

Independent
June 18, 2001


Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Prime Minister, should be tried for war crimes in connection with the 1982 massacre of Palestinian civilians in Lebanon, the former chief prosecutor to the International War Crimes Tribunal for Yugoslavia has suggested.

In a BBC Panorama programme last night, Judge Richard Goldstone, former chief prosecutor for the UN criminal tribunals for both the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, said: "If the person who gave the command knows, or should know ... that there's a situation where innocent civilians are going to be injured or killed then that person is as responsible, in my book more responsible even, than the people who carry out the orders".

Mr Sharon was Defence Minister when Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982, and Israeli forces allowed their allies in the Lebanese Christian militias to enter the Sabra and Chatila refugee camps and massacre up to 2,000 people. An Israeli inquiry held Mr Sharon responsible.

Judge Goldstone said it was regrettable that no criminal prosecutions had been brought.


More General Articles on International Justice
More Information on International Justice

 

FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Global Policy Forum distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.