While the Israel Defense Forces is trying to ease tensions by publishing the results of the initial investigation into the killing of Al-Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, the United Nations Security Council has finally shown unity on a matter, by condemning the incident and demanding an investigation. Russia and China issued condemnations as well.
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Several days later, the media is preoccupied with the clashes that took place at Abu Akleh's funeral in Jerusalem. The events are eerily similar to the death of 12-year-old Muhammad al-Durrah, who was killed in the Gaza Strip during widespread protests in September 2000, an event that fueled the outbreak of the Second Intifada later that month.
The wave of condemnations, which did not mention Israel directly, provokes an automatic anti-Israel response. US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Outgoing White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki both said they were "appalled" by the journalist's death and "deeply disturbed" by the images of the funeral. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said the same.
The Israeli government faces this tsunami in chaos, and the Palestinian matter seems to be retaking center stage in negotiations initiated by Jordan and the United States. Not even the killing of 19 Israelis and the Iran nuclear threat brought about such policy changes.
In 2000, the Israeli government claimed responsibility for Al-Durrah's death – a mistake, as it became the first blood libel in the 21st century.
Jenin was the center of another plot when Palestinian sources led by Saeb Erekat claimed that In April 2002 the IDF had carried out a massacre in the city. In reality, 51 terrorists were eliminated, and the Israeli military sustained heavy losses.
Actor Juliano Mer-Khamis was also murdered in Jenin. An Israeli who also identified as Palestinian. But that we cannot talk about. It does not fit the narrative.
Abu Akleh's death is a perfect example of a "moral counterattack" that always comes to stop the IDF when the Palestinians are losing. And there is another catch – the US has not yet recovered from the death of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
As far as Palestinian terrorism is concerned, journalists are human shields just like mothers, children, and US citizens.
Providing a partial answer to the situation is tantamount to continuing the momentum of eradicating anti-terrorism activity.
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