Israel Slams America Over Looming FBI Investigation

Biden’s Justice Department signals that it doesn’t believe the IDF to be moral, nor does it trust Israel to tell the truth.

By Israel Today Staff | | Topics: America
It was all smiles with US President Joe Biden visited earlier this year. But outgoing PM Yair Lapid's parting words for America had a less friendly tone.
It was all smiles with US President Joe Biden visited earlier this year. But outgoing PM Yair Lapid's parting words for America had a less friendly tone. Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

Israeli leaders are furious with US President Joe Biden’s Justice Department.

Despite all the declarations of commitment to Israel, the decision to have the FBI independently investigate the death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh demonstrates a lack of trust in the Jewish state.

That was the message conveyed on Tuesday by outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

“Our soldiers will not be investigated by the FBI or by any other foreign country or entity, however friendly it may be,” insisted Lapid. “We have conveyed our strong protest to the United States.”

The interim leader, who will soon hand over the reins to Benjamin Netanyahu, added that the IDF is one of the most moral armies in the world, and routinely and vigorously investigates any wrongdoing among its ranks.

For the Americans to launch their own investigation into Abu Akleh’s death demonstrates the US does not believe that to be true, and does not trust Israel, which already shared all the findings of its own investigation into the unfortunate incident.

The IDF’s internal investigation concluded that it was not possible to decisively determine the source of fire that killed Abu Akleh, but did acknowledge the likelihood that the fatal bullet came from an Israeli soldier returning fire at terrorist gunmen amongst whom the Al Jazeera reporter was embedded.

 

A serious mistake

Outgoing Defense Minister Benny Gantz issued a similarly angry response to the American decision prior to Lapid.

“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,” stated Gantz.

He likewise stressed that Israel “will not cooperate with an external investigation, and will not enable intervention to internal investigations,” even if it’s coming from America.

 

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Israel Today comments guidelines Kommentar-Regeln

2 responses to “Israel Slams America Over Looming FBI Investigation”

  1. hdfuerst says:
    November 16, 2022 at 10:01 pm

    Israels Politiker haben sich bemüht, in der USA entgegenkommen zu zeigen, aber es hat offensichtlich das Gegenteil bewirkt. Die Regierung unter MP Beiden hat Misstrauen gezeigt.
    Es hat keinen Zweck, die USA wohlwollend zu stimmen. Die Hilfe kommt nicht von ihr, sondern von dem Gott Israels.

  2. psalm100al says:
    November 17, 2022 at 12:36 pm

    Stick to your guns Israel, America under Biden is no friend of Israel or anyone else for that matter!

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