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WASHINGTON (JTA) — A bipartisan group of 25 US Congress members, together with a quantity who’re near the pro-Israel neighborhood, known as on the Biden administration to strain the Palestinian Authority to launch the bullet that killed Palestinian reporter Shireen Abu Akleh for an impartial investigation.
Abu Akleh was killed final month whereas masking clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen throughout an Israel Protection Forces operation within the West Financial institution metropolis of Jenin.
Palestinian investigators blamed Israel for her demise, whereas Israel says that solely a ballistic evaluation of the bullet — which is held by the Palestinian Authority — and the troopers’ weapons, can decide if one in every of them fired the deadly shot. The Palestinian Authority has refused at hand over the bullet, saying it doesn’t belief Israel.
“We urge you to ask the Palestinian Authority to offer entry to the forensic proof in Abu Akleh’s demise for an impartial investigation so that each one events can attain a definitive conclusion concerning the occasions resulting in her demise, and maintain all events accountable,” mentioned the letter despatched Friday and spearheaded by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Jewish New Jersey Democrat.
The signatories, 14 Democrats and 11 Republicans, embrace lawmakers recognized for his or her shut ties to the center-right pro-Israel neighborhood, amongst them Democrats Gottheimer and Donald Norcross of New Jersey; Virginia Democrat Elaine Luria; and Democrat Juan Vargas and Republican Younger Kim, each from California.
Israel has known as for a joint investigation into the Could 11 killing of Abu Akleh, a commemorated Al Jazeera journalist, with the Palestinian Authority, and have urged america act as an observer. The Palestinian Authority has rejected any Israeli function within the investigation and has known as on the Worldwide Legal Court docket to launch a case in opposition to Israel.
Thanks to lawmakers urging the Palestinian Authority present entry to key proof in Abu Akleh’s tragic demise. The PA refused Israel’s proposal for a joint investigation however with out the bullet that killed her, it is inconceivable to find out who fired it. pic.twitter.com/91lmLWAUly
— Democratic Majority for Israel (@DemMaj4Israel) June 3, 2022
Abu Akleh was an American citizen, however the US has mentioned it won’t perform its personal investigation into her demise, and can as a substitute proceed advising the Israeli authorities and the Palestinian Authority on their very own respective probes into the incident.
Final month, 57 Democrats despatched a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and to the FBI urgent for a US investigation. The letter appeared to position extra credence in variations of occasions that blamed Israeli troopers for the capturing. Two main US media shops, CNN and the Related Press, mentioned Israeli troopers have been the doubtless culprits.
International Minister Yair Lapid advised Blinken the CNN and Palestinian Authority investigations have been “biased,” and Israel has firmly rejected all accusations that Israeli troops intentionally focused Abu Akleh as a “blatant lie.”
The Gottheimer letter mentioned an investigation was “crucial” to resolving a difficulty that impinged on press freedoms.
“Ms. Abu Akleh was one in every of eighteen journalists who’ve misplaced their lives this yr in the midst of their work,” the letter mentioned. “A free press is significant to an accountable, democratic authorities. No journalist ought to face threats or violence for doing their job.”
Instances of Israel workers contributed to this report.
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