Yom Shnee
Monday
9 Elul 5782
September 5 2022
Quote of the Day
“The U.S. will not tie Israel’s hands.”
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides quoting President Joe Biden during a telephone conversation a few days ago concerning the Iranian nuclear weapons program.
There is nothing new in this quotation; we have heard the same words before. However, the statement suggests that while the U.S. will not tie Israel’s hands, it will also do nothing to support an Israeli strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.
The News on the Israeli Street
Palestinian terrorism in the last 24 hours . . .
The last few hours have seen yet another fight in Jenin and another dead terrorist; 5 more terrorists were wounded, at least one critically with a bullet wound to the head.
Also in Jenin: IDF forces are demolishing the house of the terrorist who murdered three Israelis during the April 7 attack on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv.
TODAY’S BLOG
What Did The IDF Report About Shireen Abu Aqla Actually Conclude?
Earlier today, the IDF released its report concerning the death of Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqla.
Ned Price, the U.S. State Department spokesman was quick with a statement applauding Israel and the IDF:
“We welcome the Israeli review of this tragic incident, and emphasize once again the importance of taking responsibility and providing Accountability (sic) in this case, as well as establishing policies and procedures that will prevent the recurrence of similar cases in the future.”
If you read this statement without actually reading the report, you would think that Israel took full responsibility for the death of Abu Akleh.
However, read the final conclusion for yourself:
“It is not possible to unequivocally determine the source of the gunfire which hit Ms. Abu Akleh. However, there is a high possibility that Ms. Abu Akleh was accidentally hit by IDF gunfire that was fired toward suspects identified as armed Palestinian gunmen, during an exchange of fire in which life-risking, widespread and indiscriminate shots were fired toward IDF soldiers.”
Restating:
1. An intense firefight was taking place between IDF soldiers and armed Palestinian terrorists who were firing life-threatening, widespread, and indiscriminate shots toward our soldiers.
2. There is a high possibility that Abu Akleh was accidentally hit by IDF gunfire directed towards those terrorists.
3. However, it is not possible to unequivocally determine the source of the gunfire which hit Abu Akleh.
Your humble servant, who is often critical of the IDF’s tendency to throw soldiers under bus, must say that he is pleasantly surprised by this objective analysis. Obviously, Israel was under intense pressure from the Biden Administration to find the soldiers guilty.
But the IDF did not find them so.
By the way, it was announced after the IDF report was released that Israel will not compensate the family of Abu Aqla.
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.