R-Texas Senator Ted Cruz on Tuesday slammed the US Justice Department for opening an investigation into the death of Palestinian-American Shireen Abu Akleh, an Al Jazeera reporter who was fatally shot while covering a raid Israeli military against terrorists in the West Bank city of Jenin earlier this year.
“Joe Biden and his administration see Israel and Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu as political enemies, and so they are responding to them the way they respond to all their political enemies: by unleashing the FBI,” Cruz said in a statement. Tuesday.
“Our Israeli allies have, from the outset, collaborated closely with the United States in investigating this incident, and the State Department and the Department of Defense had already drawn their conclusions.”
A mural depicting slain Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is illuminated with headlights on a street in the Arab city of Umm Al-Fahm in northern Israel September 5, 2022.
(Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images)
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said for the first time on Monday that the US Department of Justice is investigating Abu Akleh’s death.
ISRAELI POLICE CLASH WITH MOURNERS CARRYING AL JAZEERA REPORTER SHIREEN ABU AKLEH’S BOX
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid criticized the investigation on Tuesday, saying Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers “will not be investigated by the FBI or any foreign country or body, however friendly.”
“The IDF is a moral and ethical army. IDF soldiers and their commanders defend the State of Israel. They thoroughly investigate any irregular events and are committed to respecting the values and laws of democracy.”
Tributes are paid to murdered Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during a protest and vigil at BBC Broadcasting House on May 12, 2022 in London, England.
(Guy Smallman/Getty Images)
The IDF concluded in September that an Israeli soldier probably shot Abu Akleh by mistake.
Democratic lawmakers have pushed for an independent US investigation into the circumstances of Abu Akleh’s death and praised this week’s announcement.
“This is an overdue but necessary and important step in the pursuit of justice and accountability in the shooting of American citizen and journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md, said on Monday.
Benjamin Netanyahu presides over the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday in March. 8, 2020.
(AP Photo/Oded Balilty, pool)
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The investigation comes after the Israeli elections, which led to Benjamin Netanyahu tasked with forming a new right-wing government.
Yonat Friling of Fox News contributed to this report.
