Not an Internal Israeli Affair:
The Killing of Journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh
Partners for Progressive Israel is saddened and angered by the killing today of Palestinian-American journalist, Shireen Abu Aqleh, while she was covering an IDF raid in the Jenin refugee camp, and wearing a vest that clearly identified her as “Press.” We extend our condolences to her family. We also wish to express our wishes for a speedy recovery to Abu Aqleh’s colleague, journalist Ali al-Samoudi, who was wounded by gunfire.
The West Bank, it must be reiterated, is not a sovereign part of the State of Israel. It is an area which Israel has controlled since 1967 as an occupier under international law. Consequently, what happens in the area is not an internal Israeli affair, and the investigation into the killing cannot and should not be performed as an internal Israeli inquest. We call on the Israeli government, therefore, to immediately facilitate full Palestinian and international participation so that the inquiry’s findings can be supported and endorsed by all parties.
Jenin, it should also be noted, is situated in the West Bank’s Area A, which the Oslo Accords defined as under full Palestinian security control. Per the accords, Israeli forces are prohibited from entering the area, though that prohibition has regularly been ignored by Israel since 2001.
Yes – let’s please have an independent body investigating that Partners for Progressive Israel are arguing for.