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2022-05-14 Israel-Palestine-Jordan
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Israel Police: Officers intervened in funeral after rioters seized reporter’s coffin
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[IsraelTimes] Statement says ’mob’ took Shireen Abu Akleh’s casket against her family’s wishes, prompting police action; images of officers beating mourners spark global condemnation
Israeli police said late Friday that officers intervened in the funeral of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in Jerusalem earlier in the day after "rioters" seized her coffin at the hospital, against her family’s wishes.
Officers charged Paleostinians who were holding and surrounding the casket, and beat them with batons, nearly toppling the coffin. Images of the incident sparked global shock and condemnation.
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"About 300 rioters arrived at Saint Joseph hospital in Jerusalem and prevented the family members from loading the coffin onto the hearse," police said in a statement late Friday night.
Law enforcement had planned and coordinated the funeral procession with Abu Akleh’s family ahead of time, the English-language statement said.
"The mob threatened the driver of the hearse and then proceeded to carry the coffin on an unplanned procession," the statement said. "This went against the wishes of the Abu Akleh family and the security coordination."
Police instructed the crowd to return the coffin to the hearse, "but the mob refused," police said.
"Police intervened to disperse the mob and prevent them from taking the coffin, so that the funeral could proceed as planned in accordance with the wishes of the family," the statement said.
Over ten thousand Paleostinians paid their respects to Abu Akleh — killed during a firefight early Wednesday between Israeli troops and Paleostinian button men in Jenin — during the long, tense funeral procession that wound across the city from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood to the Mount Zion cemetery.
The police’s version of events was consistent with some reports from the funeral, and earlier this week, Abu Akleh’s brother said the plan was to move the casket in a hearse from the hospital to the church. After the service, it would be carried through the streets to the cemetery, he said.
The festivities erupted at Saint Joseph’s Hospital after Paleostinians sought to carry Abu Akleh’s coffin on foot, waving several Paleostinian flags, to the Old City. Police had designated that the procession would begin at the Jaffa Gate, less than two miles away.
A group of Paleostinians at the hospital seized Abu Akleh’s casket in an attempt to begin the impromptu march, beating the hearse that would take her to the Old City with sticks, according to The Washington Post. Abu Akleh’s brother Antoine reportedly sought to calm the crowd and have them return his sister’s body to the hearse.
"For God’s sake, let us put her in the car and finish the day," he was quoted as saying.
The crowd seized the coffin, leading the Paleostinians gathered in the hospital square to cheer, carrying her casket forward. After a brief standoff, coppers rushed the crowd, beating mourners and firing stun grenades. Abu Akleh’s casket almost toppled to the ground during the skirmish.
Israel Police later said that six people were tossed into the calaboose after riots "that had included stone-throwing."
Video released by Israel Police showed at least one Paleostinian hurled an object at Israeli officers before the dispersal began. The footage then showed Paleostinians throwing objects at police after officers had moved to disperse the crowd.
"They brutally attacked us because we bore the Paleostinian flag and we wanted to carry her on our shoulders [to the Old City]," said one Paleostinian witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Abu Akleh’s body was taken by van, surrounded by a police escort, to the Greek Melkite Church near Jaffa Gate. Officers tore Paleostinian flags off of the van as well before escorting it to the ancient sanctuary, according to footage.
Images of police beating mourners at the funeral elicited widespread shock and condemnation. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki
 ...a valley girl who woke up one morning and found she was spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of State under Obama. A new American success story, under Biden she became spokeswoman for the whole administration, and she was even able to get her sister a job...
called the images "deeply disturbing," and US President Joe The Big Guy Biden
...46th president of the U.S. I'm not working for you. Don't be such a horse's ass. Don't say he didn't warn us...
said the incident "has to be investigated." The European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
said it was "appalled."
Abu Akleh, 51, was one of the most beloved Paleostinian journalists working in Arabic media. A longtime correspondent for the pan-Arab network Al Jazeera, many also saw her as a trailblazing model for women in a field dominated by men.
Her killing has drawn heavy scrutiny because Abu Akleh was so well-known in the region and also a US citizen. The White House has called for an "immediate and thorough" probe into Abu Akleh’s death.
Born in Jerusalem, Abu Akleh spent time in the United States as a child and held US citizenship along with her Jerusalem residency card.
Abu Akleh left for Jenin on Wednesday morning to cover festivities between Israeli troops and Paleostinian button men. She was shot in the head while wearing a press vest, with Israeli and Paleostinian authorities providing different accounts of who killed her.
Paleostinian witnesses and officials said Israeli soldiers killed Abu Akleh. Israeli officials at first said it was likely Paleostinian button men had mistakenly shot her, but later said errant Israeli sniper fire could also have caused her death.
Israel is insisting it cannot determine who shot her without examining the bullet removed from her neck, Channel 12 reported Friday, adding that Israel has asked the US for assistance in persuading the Paleostinian Authority to cooperate.
The Israel Defense forces said earlier Friday that the Paleostinians had rejected offers to be present and take part in the inquiry alongside an American representative. 
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Posted by trailing wife 2022-05-14 00:00||
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