Israeli press sources confirmed that the Israeli police will not bring any of its officers or members who attacked the funeral of colleague Shireen Abu Aqleh to trial or even for disciplinary accountability, according to a prior decision taken before the investigations conducted by the police.
Today, Thursday, the Israeli police announced that they had completed an internal investigation into their interference during the funeral of journalist Sherine Abu Aqleh, and the scenes of police officers attacking her funeral procession sparked widespread condemnation in the world, but she did not reveal its results.
The Haaretz newspaper, quoting informed sources, said that the investigations showed deficiencies in the police's behavior during the funeral, but nonetheless, the officers who attacked the coffin will not be prosecuted.
The newspaper added that investigations concluded that there was a need to use force against the coffin bearer, but that the use of batons could have been avoided.
Media blackout
And the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper has previously reported that the Israeli police imposed a media blackout on the results of the internal investigation it conducted into the circumstances of the occupation police’s assault on the coffin of Shirin in East Jerusalem on March 13, and the beating of the coffin bearers on the day of her funeral to her final resting place.
The website said that the police justified their position by saying that the investigation was focused on an incident related to a police operation, noting that the report did not conclude that any police officer and personnel are responsible for what happened.
The assigned investigation team had completed the preparation of the report and submitted a copy of it to the Inspector General of the Israeli Police, Kobi Shabtai, who was quoted by Israeli media as saying that it is the police's duty to investigate so that such sensitive events do not recur.
In a written statement, the Israeli police said that the field investigation into police activity during the funeral was summarized and presented to the Police Commissioner, explaining that the Minister of Internal Security was informed of the findings.
Palestinian condemnation
In the first reaction, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the occupation's decision not to hold the Israeli police officers accountable for the attack on the funeral of colleague Shireen Abu Akleh.
The ministry said that the Israeli police investigations were conducted reluctantly and in an attempt to absorb what it described as the international resentment that followed this unprecedented and barbaric attack.
She added that the statement issued by the occupation police is an attempt to cover up the crime, improve the image of the police, protect its members and their terrorist act against Abu Aqila's funeral.
In anticipation of Biden's visit
Yesterday evening, Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held a meeting in the Knesset with his Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, to review the most important points and results of the internal investigation conducted by the occupation army into the assassination of our colleague Shirin Abu Akleh.
The official Israeli television said that the meeting between them came in preparation for any questions or condemnations and denunciations regarding the assassination of Shirin, which may be raised during the upcoming visit of US President Joe Biden to the region next July.
He pointed out that the killing of Shirin had led to a state of tension between Washington and Tel Aviv regarding the occupation's responsibility for killing her and attacking her funeral.
He explained that Israel submitted a set of requests to the US administration to transfer it to the Palestinians on the eve of President Biden's visit, which included obtaining the bullet that killed our colleague Sherine.