Israeli Beirut inquiry hears evidence-tampering report

A lawyer representing Israel's chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Rafael Eitan, in the judicial inquiry into the Beirut massacre produced evidence of possible tampering with a key document.

The lawyer cross-examined Army Maj. Avraham Kover, who was the duty officer receiving military and intelligence reports at the Defense Ministry on Sept. 18, the last day of the massacre. Major Kover said he recorded a telephone conversation he held with Defense Minister Ariel Sharon in the logbook. Asked by the lawyer to examine the book, Kover said someone had crossed out words in his report, added others, and forged his signature under it.