Journalists following President Joe Biden’s visit to Palestine on Friday held a silent protest against the murder of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by Israeli soldiers in May, while wearing T-shirts with a photo of her colleague’s face at the press conference.
Alongside Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abas, Biden first spoke about Abu Akleh, but moved on to the pronunciation of his name. On social media, Palestinians saw the move as disrespect and lack of commitment to Palestine.
In the joint interview of Biden and Mahmoud Abbas, journalists were forbidden to ask questions. And they put a poster with a photo of Abu Akleh on one of the chairs, to remind him that he wasn’t there covering his presidential visit.
Biden avoided talking about Palestinian journalist
Biden goes to Riyadh after crossing Israel and Palestine. this American leader’s passage through the Middle East marked by protests For the 2018 deaths of Abu Akleh and Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Biden has avoided talking about the death of the Palestinian journalist since arriving in the area.
Shireen Abu Akleh, who is also a US citizen, died on 11 May as a result of fire opened by Israeli soldiers. Scope of an attack in the occupied West Bank.
The family of the Al Jazeera reporter requested a meeting with the American president during his visit to Israel in an open letter published on social media. However, the meeting was not included in the official agenda.
Instead, the State Department invited Abu Akleh’s family members to Washington.
In the letter, the journalist’s brother requested a meeting with Biden to fully question the American agency’s report, released earlier this month, which exempts Israel from deliberately killing the press professional.
Also Read | Family questioned US report claiming unintentional shooting of Palestinian journalist
Throughout the week, placards, posters, and murals featuring Shireen Abu Akleh’s face were placed on the streets of the Israeli-occupied territory, demanding that US actions against the country be allied for the journalist’s death.
The mispronunciation of the journalist’s name was criticized on social media.
#biden can’t pronounce #ShireenAbuAkleh‘First Name. He would have gotten it right if he were really serious about protecting the lives of American dual nationals abroad.
It wouldn’t be a problem if his name was Sidner, Cooper or Ward. https://t.co/chRjSa9FOT
— Ismaeel Naar (@ismaeelrn) 15 July 2022
Despite the slippage, Biden vowed to continue the investigation into Abu Akleh’s death:
“The United States will continue to insist on full and transparent accountability for his death and advocate for press freedom worldwide.”
However, the American president did not mention Israel’s responsibility for the murder of the Al Jazeera journalist.
In addition to the US government document, organizations and independent reports of the press, including CNN and the New York Times, pointed out that the bullet that killed Abu Akleh came from Israeli forces.
“He was an American citizen and a proud Palestinian,” Biden said. “It was doing the vital work of independent media and democracy; His death is a great loss to the core work of sharing the story of the Palestinian people with the world.”
“I hope his legacy inspires more young people to continue their work of telling the truth and telling stories that are often overlooked.”
Also Read | New York Times: Palestinian Al Jazeera Correspondent Shot By Israeli Troops But Arrived By Accident
Poster replaced Shireen at the press conference
After the joint briefing, EP Chairman Mahmoud Abbas spoke to reporters about the Al Jazeera reporter and said he wanted Biden to do “justice” for his case.
We demand that those responsible for Shireen Abu Akleh’s death be brought to justice. “It is necessary to prevent Israel from feeling above international law,” said Abbas.
Professional colleagues from Abu Akleh, who attended Biden’s press conference this morning, including professionals from the Arab network Al Jazeera, placed a poster in his honor in one of the seats reserved for the press.
The text reads “Shireen Abu Akleh, voice of Palestine”.
“She should report there with her colleagues,” Lina, the journalist’s niece, said on social media. “As Shireen says, ‘in some absences there is a greater presence’,” she added.
As Shireen says “في بعض الغياب حضور اكبر”
— Lina Abu Akleh (@LinaAbuAkleh) 15 July 2022
“It’s unfortunate that Shireen isn’t following today’s events, but her colleagues are there to demand justice,” Lareen, another niece of the reporter, wrote on Twitter.
It’s unfortunate that Shireen isn’t the one to report on today’s events, but her colleagues are there to demand justice. #ShireenAbuAkleh #justiceForShireen pic.twitter.com/riFLTWRAe4
— Lareen Abu Akleh (@aa_lareen) 15 July 2022
Previously, professionals were told that they could not ask questions of the US and Palestinian leaders after their speeches.
That’s why Palestinian journalists wore black T-shirts with a photo of the Al Jazeera reporter’s face written in #JusticeforShireen.
To draw Biden’s attention to justice for Shireen, journalists wore a uniform with a photo of the murdered journalist on their T-shirts. #Shiren Abu Aqleh ahead of US President Biden’s conference in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.#BidenVisitIsraelDenied #Free Palestine pic.twitter.com/ffKkl8kapj
— Al-Jarmaq News (@Aljarmaqnetnews) 15 July 2022
Biden’s interview took place at the Palestinian Authority presidential compound in Bethlehem, in the south of the occupied West Bank.
In addition to placards and banners scattered around the city, dozens of Palestinians protested about 1km from where the Americans spoke to the press, according to Al Jazeera.
Palestinians expect little as US President Joe Biden heads to the occupied West Bank during his Middle East tour https://t.co/dp1pCtOENB pic.twitter.com/vVt0jUeujm
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) 15 July 2022
Remember the Palestinian journalist case
Shireen Abu Akleh, one of the best-known journalists on the Al Jazeera TV network, was shot dead by the Israeli army in Palestine on May 11 while covering an attack in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin.
For more than two decades, his televised death has sparked outrage among Palestinians, governments, and international organizations that defend journalism.
There were even protests and clashes with the Israeli police at his funeral, which was attended by thousands of Palestinians.
Biden’s Middle East visit led to demonstrations in Israel, where he passed through Jerusalem for the first time. Posters and banners stamped the Al Jazeera journalist’s face on the streets and demanded justice.
Shortly before Biden’s visit to Bethlehem, a Palestinian journalist removes a photo of Shireen Abu Akleh across the Church of the Nativity. pic.twitter.com/dxGIRUVkhZ
— V PALESTINE ???????? (@V_Palestine20) 14 July 2022
In Belém, activists also spread posters with the words: “Mr. Mr. President, this is racism,” he says, referring to the violence suffered by Palestinians living in that region, which is one of the areas occupied by Israel.
to see #Bethlehemin front of #bidenvisit.#BidenVisitIsraelDenied pic.twitter.com/kIcaQiOmJ1
— Liberation for Palestine???????? (@SeekingFreedo15) 13 July 2022
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source: Noticias
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