Islamic Human Rights Commission
June 9th 2000
URGENT ALERT
ISRAELI WAR CRIMINAL PROMOTED BY BARAK
BACKGROUND
Ehud Barak’s perceived image as a peacemaker was further dented, with the news that he has promoted Amos Yaron to Director -General of the Israel Defence Ministry. Yaron has been implicated in the infamous Sabra and Shatila massacre, by an official Israeli commission of inquiry. The slaughter was perpetrated by Israel’s Lebanese fascist allies, the Falange. More than 2,000 Palestinian refugees and Lebanese citizens died in the massacre, during the Israeli occupation of Beirut in 1982. The aim of the occupation was to destroy resistance to Israel, from Palestinian refugees and their Lebanese allies. The Israeli army was shown to have given the Falange logistical support to carry out the crime.
At the time Yaron was the local commander of Israeli forces. His orders ensured that flares were fired to illuminate the killing ground, to help the Falange complete Israel’s dirty work. His forces also blocked exits from the camps, to ensure the maximum slaughter.
Barak has seen fit to make Yaron second only to the Minister of Defence, knowing full well that he was responsible for contraventions of the 4th Geneva convention. It is crucial that all states that are signatories of the conventions ensure they are enforced. War criminals like Yaron must be brought to justice, not just for the sake of those who lost their lives or loved ones at Sabra and Shatilla, but also to deter future war criminals.
SUGGESTED ACTION
We are asking all volunteers to write to their MPs. The letter [see specimen letter overleaf] should ask MP’s to raise the issue with the Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, reminding the British government of its responsibilities regarding the Geneva conventions.
Furthermore the government has a responsibility to use its national courts to prosecute all war criminals. We want to make it clear that if Israel sends Yaron to this country he runs the risk of being prosecuted for war crimes. Please send us any responses you receive from MPs. We are particularly interested in responses from pro- Zionist MPs, such as Andrew Dismore [Hendon] Stephen Twigg [Enfield Southgate], Rudi Vis [Golders Green], Louise Ellman [Liverpool Riverside], and James Clappison [Hertsmere].
SPECIMEN LETTER
NAME OF MP
HOUSE OF COMMONS
LONDON SW1
Dear
Israeli War criminal promoted to Director General of Defence ministry
I am writing to you to register my disgust that Amos Yaron has been promoted to Director -General of the Israel Defence Ministry. Yaron has been implicated in the infamous Sabra and Shatila massacre, by an official Israeli commission of inquiry. The slaughter was perpetrated by Israel’s Lebanese fascist allies, the Falange. More than 2,000 Palestinian refugees and Lebanese citizens died in the massacre, during the Israeli occupation of Beirut in 1982.
At the time Yaron was the local commander of Israeli forces. His orders ensured that flares were fired to illuminate the killing ground, to help the Falange complete Israel’s dirty work. Israeli forces also blocked exits from the camps, to ensure the maximum slaughter.
The Israelis have shown complete contempt for international law by making Yaron second only to the Minister of Defence, knowing full well that he was responsible for contraventions of the 4th Geneva convention. It is crucial that all states that are signatories of the conventions ensure they are enforced. War criminals like Yaron must be brought to justice, not just for the sake of those who lost their lives or loved ones at Sabra and Shatilla, but also to deter future war criminals.
Please ask the Foreign Secretary what the British Governments response is to this disgraceful appointment. It should be made clear that it is completely unacceptable.
Furthermore if Mr Yaron should set foot in Britain, or any country of the European Union, he should be arrested and charged with crimes against humanity.
I can assure you that if the government allow Yaron into this country, I will be campaigning with many others to seek legal redress, and endeavour to see that international law is upheld, for the sake of war crimes victims every where. [END]
