Despite the likes of the PA and CNN “proving” that Israeli deliberately killed Al Jizz journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh, the New York Times has surprisingly acknowledged we still don’t know who killed her, implying we cannot take the words of these accusers as gospel.
The world still knows very little about who is responsible for her death.
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CNN and other news organizations have begun their own investigations. After reviewing video footage, witnesses’ accounts and audio forensic analysis of the gunshots, CNN reported that the evidence suggested that “Abu Akleh was shot dead in a targeted attack by Israeli forces.” The witnesses and videos, it said, provided new evidence “that there was no active combat nor any Palestinian militants near Abu Akleh in the moments leading up to her death.”
Israel reacted sharply. In an address to the World Economic Forum in Davos on May 25, President Isaac Herzog of Israel rejected the report, saying it was based on “fake facts.”
That only makes it more important to get a full accurate accounting, and the best possible means of establishing those facts would be an independent investigation conducted by a group with American, Israeli and Palestinian participation.
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While the questions around Ms. Abu Akleh’s death may be difficult to answer, that is no excuse for ignoring them. Reporters are aware of the dangers inherent in covering armed conflict, and they know that armies are not keen to have their violent missions exposed to public scrutiny. But the work of journalists is essential to public accountability for the actions of any country’s military. Journalists cannot do their jobs if they are targeted with impunity by any side in a conflict. Even if she was not singled out, Israel still needs to grapple with how this happened and what can be done to avoid similar tragedies.
But the New York Times, being the New York Times, still cannot get things right.
Independence in this probe would be, certainly, a tall order. The Palestinians, convinced that Israel would try to whitewash the killing, declared from the outset that they would not cooperate with any Israeli investigation.
The reason for the PA refusing to cooperate with Israel, has nothing to do with thinking we would “whitewash the killing” and everything to do with the fact that the evidence they are holding on to most likely will lead to the conclusion she was killed by one of the palestinian terrorists.
