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Full
AP story |
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AP
story as published by the Philadelphia Inquirer |
| 08/01/2002 |
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08/01/2002 |
| U.N.
Report Rejects Massacre Claim |
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U.N.
report: No evidence of a massacre in Jenin |
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| Edith
M. Lederer |
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Edith
M. Lederer |
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| UNITED
NATIONS (AP) - A U.N. report released Thursday found no
evidence to support Palestinian claims that Israeli forces
massacred up to 500 people in the Jenin refugee camp, but
it criticized both sides for putting civilian lives at risk.
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UNITED
NATIONS - A U.N. report released yesterday found no evidence
to support Palestinian allegations that Israeli forces massacred
up to 500 people in the Jenin refugee camp, but it criticized
both sides for putting civilian lives at risk. |
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The
long-awaited report accused Palestinian militants of violating
international law by stockpiling weapons and putting fighters
among civilians in the densely populated camp. It in turn
accused Israel of delaying critical medical and humanitarian
aid to the Palestinians and raised questions about the
massive destruction of homes and buildings in the camp
that left 17,000 people homeless.
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The
long-awaited report accused Palestinian militants of violating
international law by stockpiling weapons and putting fighters
among civilians in the densely populated camp. It in turn
accused Israel of delaying critical medical and humanitarian
aid to the Palestinians and raised questions about the wide
destruction of homes and buildings in the camp that left
17,000 people homeless. |
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| Israel,
which had repeatedly denied any massacre took place, praised
the report. The Palestinians called it "an important step." |
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Israel,
which had repeatedly denied any massacre took place, praised
the report. The Palestinians called it "an important step." |
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"It
does confirm what we felt all along, which was that there
was no massacre in Jenin," said Ambassador John Negroponte
of the United States. |
| The
report was prepared by Secretary-General Kofi Annan ( news
- web sites) at the request of the General Assembly after
Israel refused to let a U.N. fact-finding mission probe
its military assault on the camp. Israel initially offered
to cooperate saying it had "nothing to hide," but later
objected to the team's makeup and mandate. |
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The
report was prepared by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the
request of the General Assembly after Israel refused to
let a U.N. fact-finding mission probe its military assault
on the camp. Israel initially offered to cooperate, saying
it had "nothing to hide," but later objected to the team's
makeup and mandate. |
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| Even
though there was no first-hand visit, Annan said he was
"confident that the picture painted in this report is a
fair representation of a complex reality." |
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While
there was no firsthand visit by a U.N. commission, Annan
said he was "confident that the picture painted in this
report is a fair representation of a complex reality."
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| The
report was based on information from U.N. officials, private
relief organizations, documents in the public domain, the
Palestinians, Jordan, Qatar and Spain on behalf of the European
Union. Israel did not respond to
a request from Annan asking for help in its preparation.
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The
report was based on information from U.N. officials, private
relief groups, documents in the public domain, the Palestinians,
Jordan, Qatar, and Spain on behalf of the European Union. |
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| "While
some of the facts may be in dispute, I think it is clear
that the Palestinian population have suffered and are suffering
the humanitarian consequences which are very severe," Annan
told reporters as he arrived at U.N. headquarters Thursday.
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| The
violence in Jenin came amid an Israeli offensive across
the West Bank launched March 29 after a suicide bombing
that killed 29 Israelis. The Jenin camp saw the heaviest
fighting, and Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said
in mid-April that 500 people had been killed. |
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The
violence in Jenin came amid an Israeli offensive across
the West Bank launched March 29 after a suicide bombing
that killed 29 Israelis. The Jenin camp saw the heaviest
fighting, and Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian cabinet minister,
said in mid-April that 500 people had been killed.
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| But
the U.N. report said 52 Palestinian deaths had been confirmed
by April 18 — the same death toll reported by Israel. It
called the Palestinian allegation that some 500 were killed
"a figure that has not been substantiated in the light of
evidence that has emerged." |
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But
the U.N. report said 52 Palestinian deaths had been confirmed
by April 18 - the same toll reported by Israel. It called
the Palestinian allegation that 500 were killed "a figure
that has not been substantiated in the light of evidence
that has emerged." |
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| The
U.N. findings mirrored those of Human Rights Watch, which
said its experts had found nothing to back allegations of
a massacre. |
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| The
report said as many as half the Palestinian casualties may
have been civilians, but it was impossible to determine
a precise figure. Human Rights Watch documented 22 civilian
deaths, it noted. |
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| Israel
had said dozens of Palestinians — most of them gunmen —
were killed in the fierce fighting that flattened homes
in the center of Jenin camp. Twenty-three Israeli soldiers
also were killed in the battle with Palestinian militants.
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| In
a statement Thursday, Israel's Foreign Ministry said the
report came about "as the result of false Palestinian propaganda
regarding an alleged 'massacre' in Jenin Refugee camp."
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| "The
report overwhelmingly negates this Palestinian fabrication
and repudiates the malicious lies spread regarding the issue,"
it said. |
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| Palestinian
Planning Minister Nabil Shaath called the report "an important
step. I know it does not satisfy everybody and that it was
not done in the way it should be, which is sending a commission
to Jenin." |
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| The
Palestinians accused Israel of committing "war crimes" and
"atrocities" in Jenin and said the key outstanding issue
was whether the attacks constituted "a massacre and a crime
against humanity." |
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| Between
March 1 and May 7, the report said 497 Palestinians were
killed during Israel's Operation Defensive Shield in the
West Bank. |
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| Of
all the Palestinian cities, the report said Nablus suffered
"the most extensive physical damage" during the Israel incursion,
especially to the historic old city. |
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| The
report singled out the impact on civilians during the entire
Israeli operation. "Of particular
concern is the use, by combatants on both sides, of violence
that placed civilians in harms way," it said. |
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The
report singled out the impact on civilians during the entire
Israeli operation. |
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| Israeli
forces, it said, were reported "to have used bulldozers,
tank shelling and rocket firing, at times from helicopters,
in populated areas." |
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Israeli
forces, it said, were reported "to have used bulldozers,
tank shelling and rocket firing, at times from helicopters,
in populated areas." |
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| In
Jenin, the report said there is no question that Israeli
forces encountered heavy Palestinian resistance and that
militants violated international law by hiding weapons and
fighters in civilian areas, which the United Nations has
repeatedly condemned. |
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The
report said that there was no question that Israeli forces
encountered heavy Palestinian resistance and that militants
violated international law by hiding weapons and fighters
in civilian areas, which the United Nations has repeatedly
condemned. |
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| "Clarity
and certainty remain elusive, however, on the policy and
facts of the (Israeli military's) response to that resistance,"
it said. |
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