... the widely covered death of Shireen Abu Akleh. I also was not referring to the Israeli media covering these incidents up, but the IDF. I know there are media outlets in Israel which are critical of the government.
I
El you know me as well as anyone on this board. I support Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid, Benny Gantz of National Unity and Yair Golan in regards to trying to pursue a peaceful two state solution which would require withdrawing specific Israeli settlers from the West Bank.
I could get into complex explanations about the practical obstacles being caused by specific right wing politicsl parties in Israel Netanyahu does not dare lose from his coalition that do not favour a two state solution. I could also explain to you in great deal the Palestinian two state moderates forced out of the West Bank to the West or be killed by Fatah Hawks. Right now yes both extreme right wing Israeli political parties and the rulers of the West Bank Palestinians supported by their terror wings want no two state solution and I am not about to tell you otherwise.
I would also argue you know for a peace to come about extremists on both sides whether they be terrorists or not are going to resist and defy based on their extremism which is embedded with the fear and anxiety of past IDF actions and Palestinian terror actions. So I respectfully debate you on this but you and I both know the obstacles and at this point I am as doubtful as you are but do not lose hope.
That all said, I can now respond to your specific example of a journalist who was killed.
For those who do not know on 11 May 2022, Palestinian-American Al Jazeera correspondent
Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed while covering a raid by the
Israel Defense Forces at the
Jenin refugee camp. Yes she was shot in the head.
Here is why I now acknowledge your reference to it. At first the IDF said she killed by a Palestinian gunman then took back their comment.
What we both know is she was a seasoned war journalist of more than 20 years. She was openly bias against Israel but she was always respected by the IDF for her cool under fire. This is not someone who did stupid things like shouting at soldiers, throwing rocks. This was a professional.
This summarizes the strong argument claiming she was shot by the IDF deliberately:
Witness testimony and videos obtained by CNN reveal how the veteran Palestinian-American journalist was shot dead in a targeted attack in the West Bank, while she was covering an Israeli raid with a group of other reporters.
www.cnn.com
Why I acknowledge your reference can also be found based on this:
This is a specific case where the IDF admitted what it did but waited a year to apologize. Had it been upfront and candid I might be able to say to you it was an accident. However for me waiting that long is not something I could defend. Next we are left asking why did she get shot. If there was no visible commotion around her why was she shot?
Given all that you raised it and it is a legitimate example of your distrust which I must openly acknowledge and have no defence to.
In each specific example if I am given them, I might be able to explain some as accidental, some as avoidable, etc., but each one is fact specific and the one you raised most certainly in my opinion was handled poorly by the IDF.
It most certainly lends to the appearance the IDF is sloppy or careless or does not care about journalists they feel are pro Palestinian and anti Israeli.
The IDF must at all times engage in open disclosure. It must delay some reports due to on-going security issues that could be compromised but all such shootings must be fully disclosed or the IDF loses any moral ground it has.
Hamas and Hezbollah know how to play the press. The IDF tends to be stubborn and not give a damn about the press.
I hope that honestly responds to you.