Israel rejects US plan to investigate death of Palestinian journalist
The outgoing and incoming Israeli leaderships agree that Israel will not allow the FBI to investigate the death of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
The FBI's reported decision to launch a criminal probe of the May 2022 killing of Palestinian-American Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh during a firefight between Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen has prompted consternation and anger among Israeli officials.
“This is a very dramatic step. None of us knew about it; we did not see it coming. We did not receive any advance warning from the administration. It simply happened and right now we have no idea what is behind it,” a senior security official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz immediately rejected any cooperation with such an investigation, insisting that Israeli soldiers would not be questioned by any foreign agency. His statement was echoed by outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid. Both of them had nurtured a close relationship with the US administration.
Senior Israeli officials placed urgent calls to their American counterparts at the State Department, Pentagon and National Security Council seeking clarification, to little avail.
