Israel confirmed on Monday that the U.S. Department of Justice has started an investigation into the fatal shooting of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, condemning the probe as a “grave mistake” and vowing not to co-operate.
Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz made the statement on Twitter, saying Israel has made it clear to the United States “that we won’t co-operate with any external investigation.”
“We will not allow interference in Israel’s internal affairs,” he said.
A Palestinian who covered Israeli operations in the Palestinian territories for years, Abu Akleh was also a U.S. citizen.
A Justice Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Gantz’s statement. It was not immediately clear when the investigation might have begun and what it would entail. But a probe by the U.S. into Israeli actions was a rare step that could shake the strong alliance between the two countries.
The decision taken by the US Justice Department to conduct an investigation into the tragic passing of Shireen Abu Akleh, is a mistake. The IDF has conducted a professional, independent investigation, which was presented to American officials with whom the details were shared.
—@gantzbe
Palestinian officials, Abu Akleh’s family and Al Jazeera accuse Israel of intentionally targeting and killing the 51-year-old journalist, who was wearing a helmet and a protective vest marked with the word “press” when she was shot on May 11 in the occupied West Bank.
She had covered the West Bank for Al Jazeera for two decades and was a well-known face across the Arab world. Her death reverberated throughout the region.
Israel has acknowledged that Israeli fire probably killed Abu Akleh, but it vigorously denied allegations that a soldier intentionally targeted her.
It is not unusual for the FBI or other U.S. investigators to mount probes into non-natural deaths or injuries of American citizens abroad, particularly if they are government employees.
However, such separate investigations are not the rule, and it is rare — if not unprecedented — for them to occur in a U.S.-allied country like Israel that is recognized in Washington as having a credible and independent judicial system.