[Peace-discuss] CMEP Condemns Killing of Shireen, *Calls on US Government* to Investigate Murder

[Robert Naiman]

For those who don't know, "CMEP" = "all the US churches who care about
this."

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) <info at cmep.org>
Date: Mon, May 16, 2022 at 9:05 AM
Subject: CMEP Condemns the Killing of Shireen Abu Akleh and *Calls on US
Government to Investigate* Murder of the Palestinian-American Journalist
To: Robert Naiman <naiman.uiuc at gmail.com>


<https://default.salsalabs.org/T32786114-2881-4c47-a399-34e69aef195a/e39c0457-77c6-4a50-ab54-764230dc4022>

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, D.C. - May 16, 2022*

Media Contact: media at cmep.org
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202-543-1222



Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Condemns the Killing of Shireen Abu
Akleh and *Calls on US Government to Investigate* Murder of the
Palestinian-American Journalist

On Wednesday, May 11, Shireen Abu Akleh, a high-profile
Palestinian-American journalist, was shot and killed
<https://default.salsalabs.org/T9f2ec789-2828-42e9-8c36-6a61a2d21bdf/e39c0457-77c6-4a50-ab54-764230dc4022>
while covering a raid conducted by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the
West Bank city of Jenin. Abu Akleh was wearing protective gear prominently
marked with the English word “PRESS” when she was shot. Ali Samoudi,
another journalist with Abu Akleh, was shot in the back during the same
attack. Samoudi said
<https://default.salsalabs.org/T031561fe-7e8f-47fd-8fac-11c468588f44/e39c0457-77c6-4a50-ab54-764230dc4022>
the group of journalists Abu Akleh worked with that day had made Israeli
forces aware they were present to cover the incursion. He also stated that
in the attack, one bullet missed, the next one struck him in the back, and
the next shot hit Abu Akleh. She was taken to the hospital soon thereafter
and pronounced dead.

Israeli representatives, including the Israeli Prime Minister, initially
suggested the journalist had been shot by Palestinian gunmen, but
subsequently, Israeli officials have been more cautious in their public
statements. Palestinian witnesses at the scene claim an Israeli sniper
targeted the journalists. Following the killing, Israeli authorities
circulated video footage of Palestinian gunmen firing down an alleyway,
suggesting that it was this gunfire that killed Abu Akleh, but Israeli
human rights organization B’Tselem has since demonstrated that the footage
was taken in a different part of the city from where Abu Akleh was killed.

This is not the first time Israeli forces have killed a Palestinian
journalist. For example, an Israeli sniper killed Yaser Murtaja
<https://default.salsalabs.org/T4ed821c3-1034-45c0-9793-c0bfdfbd7a10/e39c0457-77c6-4a50-ab54-764230dc4022>,
a Palestinian reporter covering the Great March of Return in Gaza in 2018.
Like Abu Akleh, Murtaja was also wearing a vest with the word PRESS when he
was shot. According to the United Nations
<https://default.salsalabs.org/T7bbfdfb2-e9ec-4898-b761-3577698a1440/e39c0457-77c6-4a50-ab54-764230dc4022>,
more than 40 Palestinian Journalists have been killed by Israeli forces
since 2000. As was the case with Abu Akleh and Murtaja, these killings
included journalists clearly marked as press.

CMEP is shocked at the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh. Freedom of the press
must be protected, and the killing of journalists, especially when they are
plainly distinguishable by their press vests, represents a clear violation
of international law. CMEP’s executive director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon,
says, “We are deeply grieved by this news and condemn the killing of
Shireen Abu Akleh. Our hearts go out to her family and loved ones. We call
for an investigation and will advocate for accountability.” CMEP calls on
the United States to ensure a fair and independent investigation into Abu
Akleh’s murder and to hold the responsible parties accountable.


****

*Formed in 1984, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is a coalition of
more than 30 national church communions and organizations, including
Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Evangelical traditions that works to
encourage US policies that actively promote a comprehensive resolution to
conflicts in the Middle East with a focus on the Israeli-Palestinian
Conflict. CMEP works to mobilize US Christians to embrace a holistic
perspective and to be advocates of equality, human rights, security, and
justice for Israelis, Palestinians, and all people of the Middle East.*

*Contact Us*

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(202) 543-1222  info at cmep.org

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