US Ambassador Tom Nides Justifies Killing of American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
Tom Nides, US ambassador to Israel, recently said that the killing of Palestinian American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was justified because she had gone to a “dangerous place.” He dismissed the claims that the killing was intentional and instead praised the Israeli military bragging that he had met with them “hundreds of times.”
When challenged by a journalist on September 12, Nides responded, “We spent a great deal of time working with both the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] and the Palestinian Authority to try to come up with some conclusions of what happened. Yes, the IDF ultimately concurred as we did, that it was likely– not intentionally by the way– we said it was likely that sadly, the IDF likely shot her….
…This is a dangerous place! Jenin was a dangerous place! She’s a reporter. My wife is a reporter. It’s very difficult to do these jobs. Very complicated. But we need to make sure that the media has a right and an ability to cover these stories.
.. I have an enormous respect for the IDF, I spend an enormous of my time working with the IDF, the soldiers, the leaders. I’ve done hundreds of events with the IDF. They are a phenomenal, phenomenal military and they have unbelievable cooperation with the U.S. Defense Department.”
On May 11, Abu Akleh was shot and killed by Israeli snipers that continued to shoot at another reporter beside her. Abu Akleh was wearing a vest that clearly marked her as Press. The directed attacks toward the tight grouping led to several conclusions that Abu Akleh was targeted. Israel denied responsibility for months even as plethora investigations showed an Israeli soldier shooting at the reporters.
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