01:42USA: 'What is your actual position?' - State Dept spox grilled on apparent u-turn following IDF report on Abu Akleh's killing
US State Department Deputy spokesperson Vidant Patel struggled to clarify what appeared to be a major policy u-turn on the shooting of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, at the Tuesday press briefing in Washington DC.
On Monday Israeli authorities admitted there was a 'high probability’ one of their soldiers was responsible, and reporters wanted to know why the department seemed to be backtracking.
"I am a little confused as to what your actual response or what your actual position is, this is an American citizen who was killed. You have called for accountability and yet there does not seem to be any accountability there," a journalist asked him.
The department previously called for the killers of the Al Jazeera reporter to be pursued 'to the fullest extent of the law'.
"We continue to underscore the importance of accountability in this case and we're going to continue to press our Israeli partners to closely review its policies and practices on rules of engagement and consider additional steps to mitigate the risk of civilian harm, protect journalists and prevent similar tragedies in the future," said Patel.
Abu Akleh was wearing a 'press' jacket and helmet when she was killed in the West Bank on May 11, during clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinians. The Israeli Defence Forces initially blamed Palestinian gunmen.
01:42Mandatory credit: US department of State
US State Department Deputy spokesperson Vidant Patel struggled to clarify what appeared to be a major policy u-turn on the shooting of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, at the Tuesday press briefing in Washington DC.
On Monday Israeli authorities admitted there was a 'high probability’ one of their soldiers was responsible, and reporters wanted to know why the department seemed to be backtracking.
"I am a little confused as to what your actual response or what your actual position is, this is an American citizen who was killed. You have called for accountability and yet there does not seem to be any accountability there," a journalist asked him.
The department previously called for the killers of the Al Jazeera reporter to be pursued 'to the fullest extent of the law'.
"We continue to underscore the importance of accountability in this case and we're going to continue to press our Israeli partners to closely review its policies and practices on rules of engagement and consider additional steps to mitigate the risk of civilian harm, protect journalists and prevent similar tragedies in the future," said Patel.
Abu Akleh was wearing a 'press' jacket and helmet when she was killed in the West Bank on May 11, during clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinians. The Israeli Defence Forces initially blamed Palestinian gunmen.