Israel will not hold criminal inquiry into killing of journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh

The Israeli army’s Military Police Criminal Investigation Division does not plan to investigate the fatal shooting of Shireen Abu Akleh. The Palestinian-American journalist for Al Jazeera was killed during clashes between Israel Defense Forces soldiers and Palestinian gunmen in Jenin on May 11.

Israel’s fragile government lost its parliamentary majority on Thursday after an Arab-Israeli lawmaker resigned from the ruling coalition, accusing its leaders of fueling tensions between Israelis and Palestinians and condemning the violent intervention of police at the funeral of slain journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces denied an Israeli media report that there would be no IDF criminal investigation into the killing of Abu Akleh. The Haaretz newspaper reported Thursday morning that the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division (MPCID) had decided against an investigation. Hours later, the IDF said no decision had yet been made.