The Chief of Staff explained that while I.D.F. units were in the vicinity of Sabra and Shatilla camps, they did not enter them and because of darkness, could not see what was happening inside the camps. General Eitan said there was fighting inside the camps and ascribed part of the tragedy to the failure of the Lebanese army to coordinate action with Israel, thus leaving the area open to other Lebanese units. "But in the morning, when we saw what had happened, we intervened quickly and they left. " Text:
Q: Correspondents are asking how it is that although I.D.F. positions were virtually overlooking the camp, we did nothing to stop the slaughter in the Shatilla camp.
A: We did not enter the camps. We were to the west of the camps and we entered the city. The Phalanges went out to fight, they fought in this Camp Shatilla, with their fighting procedures - if we can call them that. We did not see what was being done, it was at night.
Q: The soldiers there thought that regular fighting was going on?
A: There was fighting and there were also people killed and wounded. In the morning, when we identified what was happening and what was liable to happen, we quickly intervened - and there was a problem because they were not required to obey us - and they went out of there.
Q: Some of the residents contended that these were Haddad's men, whom they identified by the insignia on their chests, that they were not Phalangists.
A: That is not so, and I don't think something like this happened here. I know that people from the south - it is not certain. It is impossible to know who came and there is no control over everyone. They all harbor feelings of vengeance. And some of the (unintelligible-ed.), I don't know exactly who, tried to enter the city, and our soldiers shot at them, killing one.
Q: Of the Phalangists?
A: I don't know. No, people from the south. Where our soldiers are there is quiet and complete security for the population.
Q: In your opinion, looking back, would it have been possible to prevent this slaughter.
A: We have been trying for more than a week to coordinate with the Lebanese army for their entry into the city, but with no success. There are all sorts of political reasons, not military ones, apparently. There were both direct and indirect contacts, and in vain. If the Lebanese army had been ordered to come in a week ago, there would have been no problems. I don't know what their interest was, or [the interest] of whoever did not give the order.
Q: What is happening in Burj el-Barajneh?
A: The Lebanese army is in Burj el-Barajneh and it is completely quiet there.
Q: There was no slaughter reported there?
A: No, the Lebanese army is there. They entered there about ten days ago. Wherever the Lebanese army or the Israeli army is, there are no problems. Last night there was coordination. There was finally coordination and direct contact with the Lebanese army, with their officers. They are still here on the roof, and every process is coordinated with them. And that is without intermediaries and without any problems. Directly. Here, you saw at 10:30 a Lebanese army convoy entered the refugee camp, and in my opinion, the population will be safe. What will happen afterwards, I do not know. But in the city, we are thinning out our forces. We turned over parts of the city to the Lebanese army. And in my opinion, wherever our soldiers are or the Lebanese army is, the civilian population has no problems. Again, I say that what will happen afterwards nobody knows.
Q: How long, in your estimation, will it be until we leave the city?
A: The problem now is arms and ammunition dumps in enormous quantities which we are uncovering and gathering up. I assume that when that is finished we will leave. We have no need to hold the city. Wherever the Lebanese army is ready to enter the city, we leave.
Q: Are there still pockets of resistance of the terrorists?
A: Nowhere.
Q: It's finished?
A: It's finished everywhere.