Shireen Abu Akleh, a veteran journalist for the Qatar-funded media network, Al Jazeera, was tragically killed in Jenin in Judea and Samaria this week. Local and international media have already rushed to condemn Israel for her death, even though an investigation has not yet been conducted, and it’s just as likely (if not more likely) that the responsibility for her death lies squarely with Palestinian Arab terrorists.
This Wednesday, on May 11, 2022, the IDF entered the terror hotbed city of Jenin, located in northern Samaria, in an operation to hunt down Palestinian Islamic terrorists. They were met by heavy gunfire from Palestinian militants. In the midst of this gunfire, Shireen Abu Akleh, a journalist who was conducting news coverage for Al Jazeera, was struck in the head by a bullet and killed. She had been reporting for Al Jazeera since 1997.
While the incident is tragic and unfortunate, it’s important to note several things:
- There is zero proof that Israel killed Shireen Abu Akleh.
- The world has already rushed to condemn Israel with ZERO facts.
- The PA has refused to cooperate in a joint investigation with Israel.
Here are a few of the headlines that have already made their way around the world, drawing so many to condemn Israel:
- “Israel’s assassination of journalist Abu Akleh”
- “The crime of executing Abu Akleh”
- “Israel’s violent assassination”
- “Deliberate targeting”
- “Heinous crime”
- “Israel has a shoot-to-kill policy against the Palestinian people”
- “Israel openly rewards their soldiers for the killing of Palestinians, including journalists”
Israel immediately offered to participate in an open and transparent joint investigation with the Palestinian Authority to determine who is responsible for Abu Akleh’s death. The Palestinians refused. Regardless of who is responsible, the Palestinians seem determined to play the game safely – refusing to cooperate with Israel knowing that the full condemnation will fall on the IDF, no matter what the truth reveals.
While there have been conflicting videos and reports circulating on social media, things are still unclear. A careful preliminary analysis by the IDF shows video footage of Palestinian militants rushing out of an alley a short distance from where the journalist was killed, shouting that they had just shot a soldier [they presume Israeli], and that they had seen him fall to the ground. Since journalists wear flak jackets and military helmets, it would be easy to mistake them for an Israeli soldier from a distance. As the IDF reported zero casualties from their operation in Jenin, there is a good chance it was someone else that the militants shot, perhaps the Al Jazeera journalist.
Additionally, consider this: if the IDF entered Jenin, a known hotbed of terror, and immediately encountered heavy gunfire by armed militants, why would the only casualty from the operation be a journalist? Armed and dangerous radical terrorists are the target of the IDF’s operations in Judea and Samaria. And the IDF is one of the best militaries in the world with an impossibly high standard of operations. If the IDF didn’t even shoot one terrorist during their operation in Jenin, why would they have targeted a journalist?
There is a possibility that Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by an IDF bullet. If she was, it was most certainly an unfortunate accident, and Abu Akleh is an innocent casualty of violence, just like so many unfortunate others in her line of work all over the world.
However, the evidence suggests otherwise, and the chances that Abu Akleh was killed by terrorists’ gunfire is likely. Regardless of whether it was intentional or not, the Palestinians see their opportunity in this tragic incident. They know for a fact that no matter if the truth gets out or not, they have already won the narrative war against Israel, and it will go down in the misinformation history books that “Israel deliberately targeted and murdered an innocent journalist.”
After all, radical Islamic Jihadists don’t care about truth.
Besides, if it weren’t for the Palestinians’ insistent and murderous hatred of and violence towards Israel, Shireen Abu Akleh would still be alive.
U have 2 understand the Palestinian perspective…she is dead—whether directly or indirectly—b’cuz Israel exists…If there were no Israel—she wud B alive 2day…from the college course…palestinian metaphysics 101…Glad U asked!
This is a very unfortunate incident. It could have happened by either side but let’s not assume Israel I intentionally killed this journalist! That would be sooo wrong.
It saddens me that this journalist lost her life due to the hatred of the Jewish people and the state of Israel. The Jews have been the scapegoats for so many troubles in the world for over 2,000 plus years. When the Jews were finally “given “ their homeland when the State of Israel was born in 1948 we finally had our own country. It seems to me that most people are not aware of the fact that there have always been Jews living in the Holy Land for thousands of years. The fact that, finally, the Jewish People now had their homeland restored to them, angered the few Arabs living there. The Arabs refused to share the land with their cousins and immediately declared war on the Jews and they have never stopped. All of a sudden there appeared thousands of Palestinians who fled Jordan and other countries in the Middle East and called themselves “refugees.” The Jewish People had been refugees since the 1st Century and wherever they went they were used for their intelligence and when the country in which they were living at the time finished with them, they were persecuted like no other people and they had to find a new country. After the horrors of WW11 and the concentration camps, now they have their own land given to them by G-d. Many years ago I found on the cover of a magazine the words that have haunted me ever since and those words were “The Whole World Hates the Jews” which I believe is true today. I am Jewish but I am not considered Jewish because I am a Messianic Jew who believes in Yeshua (Jesus). I honor the Sabbath which is celebrated just before Sundown on Fridays by lighting the candles and saying the prayer to welcome in Shabbat. I am biblically Kosher, which means I don’t eat pork or shellfish or anything else that is forbidden in the Torah. I love being a Messianic Jew and watch services every Saturday which are streamed on TV because I don’t go out due to the fact that I have several health issues. I watch three Messianic Services which are not close to where I live plus I also enjoy watching services streamed from a Reformed Synagogue called Central Synagogue in New York City. I pray every morning for just about everyone I know plus whatever bad things are happening around the world and always pray for peace and good health, happiness, and Blessings for all. I close by reading several chapters from the Torah and then several chapters from my Jewish New Testament. I do this because I love to connect with God and I need to always repent all my sins, of which there were many from my past before I became a “believer.” Of course, I am still a sinner because we all are sinners so I ask G-d every day to please forgive me for all my sins and I thank Him for all the blessings in my life and am so grateful for everything that He has done for me.
Please know that the haunting quote is not true. Many people do love the Jewish people. Though I don’t know how many do or don’t, please know you are being prayed for and honored because G-d has always chosen you first. And our Saviour was sent down from heaven to live his earthly life as a Jew. The first Christians were Jews. The gospel was spread to the ends of the earth by the Jewish followers of Christ first. G-d bless you. He has a plan and a promise so no matter what things appear to be He is faithful to His promises. He is not a man that He should lie. I’m not denying that there is hate in the world. But there is always a remnant. Keep trusting. We win in the end.
I, along with my wife are Nzders who have become Messianic Gentle Zionists. We owe our salvation to the Jewish people. I wholeheartedly agree with the statement of fact: ” It is impossible to say, I am a Christian and not love the Jewish people”> Thanks to Frances for her passionate love for her own beloved Jews. She comes across as a very smart lady with tremendous conviction. I admire her Messianic Christian stance. Mataakitanga –Shalom blessing. Bruce/Linda +++
Shalom Frances,
It is lovely to read your story and that you are a believer in Yeshua. It’s marvelous to see G_D working in his people.
The scriptures are so relevant for us today, more than ever. And speaking of Ishmael, the ancestor of the Arabs, it appears that little has changed. Gen 16:12 And he shall be as a wild ass among men; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell over against all his brethren.
Thank you for sharing your testimony. As a Christian my heart rejoices to hear that you are a Messianic Jew, and your faith is in Jesus Christ. I know it must seem like the whole world hates the Jews, but as Christians we are commanded to Love One Another and I know that although the Jews have suffered greatly and continue to suffer even in their own land which God has given them, when Christ returns, He will save Israel and destroy any nation who has come against them. I will pray for you Frances and hope you will pray for me. We will be together in heaven one day, serving the Lord for all eternity.