Sabra and Shatila - September 1982
by Bayan Nuwayhed al-Hout

The book covers the history of the Sabra and Shatila massacre, which took place over three bloody days in the Lebanese capital Beirut. It was committed against Palestinian refugees by Lebanese militias, aided and supervised by the Israeli Army, which had encircled the district.

Now available for the first time in English, this classic book is the most comprehensive, authoritative account of what happened and who was responsible. The author, Bayan Nuwayhed al-Hout, was a Professor at the Lebanese University at the time. Driven by the horror of what occurred, she interviewed survivors and set up an oral history project immediately after the massacre to preserve testimonies. This book is the result.

Following a general introduction, the first part contains interviews mainly with victims' families. The second part analyses statistical data and attempts to determine the number of victims. The conclusion, 'Who Was Responsible?', sheds light on the various parties responsible.

Over five-hundred pages long, illustrated with photographs and maps, unrivalled in detail and scope, this book is a courageous attempt to make sense of what happened and an important political document in its own right.

About the Author
Bayan Nuwayhed al-Hout was born in Jerusalem. Following the 1948 war, her family moved to live in Amman, then returned to her parents’ homeland of Lebanon in the late 1950s, where she gained a Ph.D. in political science from the Lebanese University. From 1979 on, she joined the academic staff of the same university, and dedicated herself to historical/political writings, mainly on the Palestine Question. She has published several books, and dozens of articles and essays.

Reviews
"Certainly the best work of any I've seen on the subject. An amazing study that puts names to the numbers, and gives charecter to the names. These are the stories of the residents of the district, a must read for anyone interested in the Palestinian question. Although its certainly written from a perspective, its the one from the inside."
- T. Marino