The Biden administration has harshly criticized Israel over police violence at the funeral of journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh – a Palestinian and US citizen – who was killed earlier this week during an Israeli operation in the West Bank.
Footage of the Jerusalem funeral procession showed Israeli forces using crowd control measures on Palestinian mourners in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, with some Israeli police striking those carrying the late Al Jazeera reporter’s coffin.
“Every family deserves to lay their loved ones to rest in a dignified and unimpeded manner,” he added.
Blinken’s criticism came shortly after US President Joe Biden said while he didn’t know all of the details, that “it has to be investigated.”
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who described the images as “deeply disturbing,” said the US is in close contact with Israeli and Palestinian authorities, working to bridge cooperation between the two sides.
Senator Chris Murphy, who chairs the Senate subcommittee dealing with the Middle East, tweeted: “I haven’t heard any credible explanation why this level of force was used on these mourners. What happened is unacceptable.”
Further rebuke came from US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren among others.
On Friday, hundreds of people gathered for Abu Akleh’s funeral, with many of them flying Palestinian flags and chanting what Israeli authorities described as “nationalistic incitement calls,” according to Haaretz.
Israeli police said that they were “forced to act” after rioters began to throw stones, resulting in 10 Palestinians requiring medical assistance.
Shame on those US lawmakers. Never mind that the Palestinian animals have butchered 19 innocent souls in recent weeks and not a word from their decrepit mouths! Shame on them.
Can someone help out together a list and let’s fund their opponent’s campaigns and vote these rascals out of office and off our payroll.
Are the US Lawmakers anti-Semites? Why aren’t they blasting Israel for their police action in Meron the end of last week?
Blankety Blank is busy Blinken and sees only Israeli power. He blinks -long blinks – when it’s the arabs.
……a terrorist who shot at soldiers and Border Police officers is being treated at our expense in an Israeli hospital.
Only in Israel does a terrorist shoot at soldiers and then treat him and save his life….
And the U.S. doesn’t have the courtessy nor the courage to acknowledge this. Shame on them BIG TIME. Blankets Blank, you’ve exposed yourself!
Does the Israeli Knesset members comment when American cops act in a questionable fashion (which is pretty much every day)? This meddling of the democrat party into day to day activities and policies of a foreign Nation is illegal and unconstitutional. Do they comment on goings on in Bangladesh? In Saudi Arabia, where they throw gays off of buildings? In Pakistan? No. Only in Israel do they have to give their corrupt biased opinions.