President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday commented on CNN's assessment that Israeli snipers intentionally fired at Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh while she was reporting from the Gaza Strip.
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Noting Abu Akleh was killed while security forces were operating inside Jenin following a series of deadly terrorist attacks, Herzog said her death was "of course a very sad event."
"It pains me. It pains many Israelis," he said.
Herzog noted, "We have offered the Palestinians a joint investigation as to the circumstances of this very tragic event. Unfortunately, the Palestinians refused. They took the body, they took the bullet. Therefore one cannot substantiate any one of the scenarios without those facts," he said.
"Israel was open and transparent and offered the United States to join this process of investigation as well, because we attach high importance to freedom of speech and the work of journalists and media channels, and we respect them."
Yet Herzog emphasized: "We have already in the past had cases where we were blamed and the truth transpired later, that there were a lot of fake facts regarding Israel."
Turning to improving ties with Ankara, Herzog spoke of "the encouraging opportunity to turn a new leaf with Turkey, and the evolving collaboration with countries in the region with which we are eager to formalize relations fills me with great optimism. I call on all countries and nations from near and far, to join these winds of change, partner with Israel, lead the future, and make history!"
He said, "We are well aware that as this thrilling momentum grows, so does the motivation of dark forces, be they individuals, groups, or radical regimes, to inflame tensions, and ignite violence. Those who wish to keep the Middle East stuck in the old paradigm of hatred and terror, while undermining the new paradigm of trust, and directing rampant hatred towards the State of Israel, its people, and Jewish people around the world.
"Unfortunately, our principal struggle is against the Iranian regime, which systematically undermines the stability of the region. Israel, and all nations of the world, cannot accept Iran's pursuit of nuclear capabilities, recognizing the threat it poses to Israel and the entire Middle East. Iran spreads hatred, terror, pain, and suffering. Time and again we have seen how every country or region infiltrated by Iran has had the life sucked out of its people and its land. Prosperity, human liberty, creativity, growth—all are erased. We have seen this in Iraq. We have seen this in Yemen. We have seen this in Gaza. We have seen this in Syria. And we have seen this in Lebanon.
Using Lebanon as an example, Herzog said: "Beirut was once termed the Paris of the Middle East. Lebanon is a country and a people with which Israel has not the slightest reason for a conflict. It is painfully disturbing and sad to see the catastrophe of Lebanon, a country continuously collapsing into poverty and pain. Israel is eager to share its prosperity and successes with all its neighbors, to break down barriers imposed by Iran's influence."
Israel "will always extend our hand in peace to all our neighbors, from the Levant to the Gulf, from the Maghreb to the Mashreq, from our immediate neighbors the Palestinians, to the entire Muslim world and also to the whole continent of Africa and the entire Middle East," Herzog said.
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