A year ago, Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot in the head by Israeli gunfire. Despite numerous investigations by international organizations and media, which incriminate the Israeli army, the authorities of the Jewish state have never fully acknowledged their responsibility.
With our special envoy in Ramallah, Sami Boukhelifa
At the entrance to al-Jazeera’s office, two photos of the journalist with this inscription: “ Shireen Abu Akleh, spearhead of information”. “ This is Shireen’s office, this is where she worked when she wasn’t in the field “, shows Walid Omary, head of the television channel in Palestine, and in Israel. Shireen Abu Akleh’s office has been transformed into a memorial where candles, wreaths, a commemorative plaque, a Palestinian keffiyeh carefully folded and placed prominently are placed. “ We left the office as it was because we have many visitors. Some even painted his portrait “says Walid Omary.
This office will soon be transported as is, to the Shireen Abu Akleh museum in Ramallah, the first stone of which will be laid on Thursday, the anniversary of his death. This will be an opportunity for Walid Omary to demand justice for Shireen Abu Akleh, but not only. “ This museum will tell the stories of all the Palestinian journalists killed during the occupation. Since the year 2000 and until today, around twenty Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli forces, according to Unesco. And since the beginning of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories in 1967, 104 Palestinian journalists have been killed. »
” Israeli soldier who shot Shireen Abu Akleh must answer for his act in court », demands Walid Omary. There will be no trial, said, on condition of anonymity, a former senior Israeli official in office at the time of Shireen Abu Akleh’s death.
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” Denying responsibility is what the Israeli army systematically does »
In a report published on Tuesday (9 May), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says no Israeli soldier has been held responsible for the deaths of 20 journalists (18 Palestinians, one British and one Italian) killed by the Israeli army in the Palestinian Territories for the past 22 years. This survey, titled Deadly Pattern (“Deadly scheme”, in French) highlights the mechanism put in place by the Israeli army, to systematically exempt from any responsibility, its soldiers implicated in the death of journalists.
“ Deny. Denying responsibility is what the Israeli army systematically doessays Orly Halpern, an Israeli-American journalist who conducted the survey for CPJ. This is what she did in the case of Shireen Abu Akleh. The Israelis said: “oh no, it’s not us”. But then you bring them all the necessary evidence. You prove that the Israeli sniper could perfectly see in his sight the inscription “Press” on Shireen’s body armor. But the army will reject all this evidence in its entirety “.
Of the 20 journalists killed by the Israeli army since 2000, 18 were Palestinians. Shireen Abu Akleh was Palestinian-American. A British journalist was also shot dead. But impunity remains total, regrets Orly Halpern. “ No one has ever been held to account for the deaths of all these journalists. Israel only agreed to admit the guilt of the soldier responsible for the death of the British journalist. Because his family sued Israel in an English court, which concluded that the Israeli soldier had indeed committed murder “.
British justice had put pressure on the Israeli authorities: either the soldier is tried in Israel, or he is extradited to the United Kingdom. Finally, a financial agreement was reached between the journalist’s family and Israel. But the soldier was never convicted.
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