Blinken invites Abu Akleh family to meet US officials
JERUSALEM (AA) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, responding to an earlier request, has finally invited the family of slain Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh to a meeting in Washington.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Wednesday told reporters aboard US President Joe Biden’s plane flying to Israel that Blinken had spoken over the phone with Abu Akleh’s family and invited them to meet with US officials.
“The administration, at the president’s direction, has been very much engaged in helping try to determine what exactly happened around the tragic circumstances of her death,” he said.
“There will have to be efforts made in accountability and making sure that we find a way to conclude this chapter justly. This is someone who was a journalist, and an American citizen. The President, the Secretary of State, the entire team grieves for the family,” he said.
Abu Akleh, 51, a Palestinian-American journalist working for the Doha-based Al Jazeera network, was shot dead May 11 while covering an Israeli military raid near the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
While Palestinian officials and Al Jazeera accused Israel of killing the reporter, Tel Aviv denied any responsibility.
Last week, the family of Abu Akleh criticized the findings of a US forensic analysis which rejected overwhelming evidence that the bullet that killed Shireen came from an Israeli sniper. The family also requested to meet with Biden during his visit to the Middle East region.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
