French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday urged Israel to complete swiftly investigations into the death of a Palestinian journalist killed last week during an Israeli operation against terrorists in Jenin.
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Veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot dead on Wednesday.
"The president said that he was moved by the death of Shireen Abu Akleh and reiterated France's position that a rapid conclusion of the investigation was needed," the French president's office said following a telephone call between Macron and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Israel and the Palestinians are conducting separate probes of her death and both remain at loggerheads over the fatal shooting.
The Palestinians accuse Israel of assassinating her and have called for an international response. Israel has denied targeting her, saying she may have been shot accidentally by a soldier or by a Palestinian gunman as they exchanged fire.
The Elysee said that Macron had also expressed concern about Israel's recent decision to press ahead with more than 4,000 new homes in Judea and Samaria. A statement from Bennett's office following the call made no mention of Abu Akleh or of the settlements.
The Elysee also said Macron and Bennett would coordinate efforts to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Both leaders have been involved in so far fruitless diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing peace to Ukraine.
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