Won’t Release Classified Documents About Camps Massacres He Needs in Libel Suit Against Time Magazin

The Cabinet, acting on the recommendations of security agencies, refused today former Defense Minister Ariel Sharon’s request for release of classified documents relating to the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps massacres which he says he needs to pursue his $50 million libel suit against Time magainze.

Sharon filed suit against Time last year, charging that the mass circulation American news weekly “heavily damaged” his reputation by alleging that he had secretly urged the Christian Phalangists to massacre Palestinians in the two West Beirut camps in September, 1982, to avenge the assassination of their leader, President-elect Bashir Gemayel of Lebanon.

Time contends that its accusation was based on a secret appendix to the report by the commission of inquiry into the massacre, headed by Supreme Court President Yitzhak Kahan. The Kahan Commission, in its findings published early in 1983, found Sharon indirectly responsible for the massacre because he had ignored the likelihood of Phalangist reprisals when he allowed them to enter the refugee camps in search of terrorists believed hiding there.

BELIEVES DOCUMENTS WOULD SUPPORT HIS CLAIMS

Sharon believes the documents which the Kahan panel studied but which remains classified for security reasons, would support his claim that he is the victim of libel. Premier Yitzhak Shamir suggested at today’s Cabinet meeting that Time magazine authorize an Israeli citizen whom it trusts to review the secret material which the government would put at his disposal.

This selected citizen, Shamir said, would be allowed to prepare an affidavit which would state whether or not the material contains any confirmation of the allegations Time made against Sharon, though the material itself would remain secret. He told the Cabinet that wider disclosure of the material, as requested by Shamir, would be contrary to the national interest.

Sharon apparently was not satisfied with the suggested procedure. According to Cabinet sources, he and Shamir had a vituperative exchange during the meeting today. Sharon reportedly repeated his charge that the Cabinet had “abandoned” him to bear the full brunt of events in Lebanon while other ministers equally responsible were excused.

REQUEST LEAKED TO NEWS MEDIA

Sharon’s request for release of the classified documents was made in confidence. It was not intended to be generally known but was in fact leaked to the news media here. Cabinet secretary Dan Meridor said today that a copy of Sharon’s request had been sent, apparenly without his knowledge, to the lawyers representing Time in New York.

Time informed its Israel Bureau of the request and it swiftly become known to the local media, Meridor said. According to his version, there was no leak from the security agencies which the Cabinet had consulted with respect to the request.