Israel should let US investigate journo’s death
ISRAEL prides itself as the only democracy in the Middle East. But how “democratic” does this state behave, specifically in its conflict with Palestinians? There is ample evidence that it does not live up to this self-declared status.
The most recent example is the killing of the journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in May. The Al Jazeera journalist was shot when covering a fight between Palestinians and the Israeli military in the West Bank. Most accounts have blamed the Israelis for this killing and ironically its own report has conceded that it is possible that the army killed the journalist by mistake. But this admission rings hollow in light of how Israel is responding to independent efforts to investigate the matter.
A US congressperson has called for an investigation as Abu Akleh was an American. Any responsible state would co-operate with such an investigation.
But the Israeli government has emphatically said that it will have nothing to do with the inquiry. Thus the question arises: what is Israel hiding? For this investigation is not being undertaken by some other organisations which Israel frequently brands as biased, such as the UN, but by its primary supporter, America.
One would expect the Israelis trust that their most dependable ally would undertake an impartial investigation.
It has been said before, the worth and respect of any state is proven in the way in which it responds to its enemies – where it has erred.
Israel should allow the Americans to investigate this issue. Otherwise, the accusation that Abu Akleh’s death was murder will ring true.
DR THABISI HOEANE |