The news about the opening of an investigation by the US Department of Justice into the death of journalist Shirin Abu Aqla hit Israel like a thunderbolt on a clear day, without prior warning. In the security establishment, the event is talked about in terms of nothing less than “stabbing a knife in the back” by our biggest partner.
This event is disturbing not because of the findings that this investigation may yield: Israel has nothing to hide here. The IDF itself admitted that Abu Aqla, an American citizen, was most likely killed by an unintentional shot by one of its soldiers. The problem here is the precedent: the American announcement conveys a message that the USA does not trust the investigation conducted in Israel, and is reflected in the coming of what the future holds in our relations with The next generation of the Democratic Party in the USA.
The announcement of the American investigation was received in Israel on November 3, two days after the elections, so the investigation was opened even before the results of the elections were known here and is not a result of them. Vibrating with rage, Defense Minister Benny Gantz called the American State Department official and scolded him with a thunderous voice and words that are not ambiguous. The American official said in his defense that he had no idea who decided on the investigation and why.
From that moment, Israel began to search for the source of the unusual initiative and who was behind it. The understanding was that if we found who started the investigation – we would also know how to shut it down. The State Department, the Defense Department and the White House have denied any involvement. But their denials should be taken with limited liability. The Americans are masters at hiding behind their monstrous bureaucratic apparatus. As of the time of writing these lines – the root of the demand for an investigation has not yet been found.
During the conversation with the Foreign Ministry official, Gantz recalled the conversation he had with the American Foreign Minister about two months ago. So he called to update Anthony Blinken on the negotiations with Lebanon on the maritime border and was surprised to hear him talk about the need for a more thorough investigation into the case of the journalist’s death. Gantz was moved and, unlike his custom, raised his voice in the conversation. “Unlike you, I have been in combat situations, when you are being shot at.” , told the US Secretary of State. “You don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Lincoln did not continue the argument, but apparently did not let go of the subject.
Over the years, quite a few American citizens have been killed in our conflicts with the Palestinians. But Abu Aqla is no longer the same. She is a familiar figure throughout the Middle East and among everyone who follows the ongoing conflict here. What mainly excited Israel was the fact that a transparent and completely open investigation was conducted here before the Americans. Forensic experts from the USA were invited and were present in the dark room when the Palestinian Authority ordered to transfer the deformed bullet to us, and here they dipped it in solutions to understand which barrel it was fired from.
The bullet was received in a situation where it was not possible to determine this with certainty, but the ballistics calculations showed that Abu Aqla was most likely shot by an IDF soldier who fired from a slit in an armored vehicle at gunmen who shot at him. The Chief Military Prosecutor reviewed the findings and determined that there was no reason to open a criminal investigation, or In other words: there is no suspicion that Abu Aqla was deliberately killed by IDF fire.
The US sometimes opens a criminal investigation into the death of an American citizen in another country. This usually comes in response to a request from family members, other citizens or members of the legislature. So far it is not clear who initiated the process this time, but Gantz and outgoing Prime Minister Lapid decided As soon as Israel will not cooperate with such an investigation, certainly not after the Americans were complicit in the previous investigation.
Parallel universe
As if in a parallel universe, security relations with the US continued to tighten this week. The commander of the American Central Command, Michael “Eric” Korilla, landed in Israel for his fourth visit here since taking office seven months ago. He visited the Northern Command, where he received an overview of the situation in front of Lebanon After signing the agreement on the maritime border, from there he continued to the air force base in Nebatim.
This time, the IDF spokesman’s announcement left no room for doubt regarding the purpose of the visit: “cooperation in the third circle.” Korila received reviews of the preparations being made by the Air Force to build a military option against Iran, or as Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi said at the end of the visit: “We are training and developing Joint military capabilities against the developing threats in the Middle East, and in a special way against Iran.” The US is an integral part of the IDF’s preparations for action against the Iranian nukes. In the past year, the Air Force carried out two models of an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The US Army took part in the simulations, but made sure to conduct the joint exercise at a separate time from the large Air Force exercise.
It is clear to Israel that the US, under the current administration, will not take part in the attack on the Iranian nuclear, but it is important that it be a partner and not an obstacle. That is why we make sure to share the plans with the Americans, so that at the moment of truth they will not interfere and lend a shoulder in Israel’s struggle against the reaction that will follow.
The IDF is seriously building the military option against the Iranian nuclear, but even when it is completed – it will not be a good option. Even if Israel succeeds in destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities, or at least those above ground – it will not deprive Iran of the knowledge it has already gained in production fissile material.
Therefore, it is doubtful whether the military option will be attractive, not even to the far-right government that will disappear within days, since the price for exercising the option will be heavy: a broad campaign against Hezbollah and possibly Iran, which will take a heavy toll on Israeli lives and may also scar our sense of security forever. This is not another stabbing attack, but experiences that Israeli society has not experienced since 1949: from the occupation of an Israeli settlement to extensive damage to the rear.
But things don’t really take place in a parallel universe. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense hope that they will be able to close the investigation into the death of Abu Aqla before the change of governments. The American attention to the Israeli Defense Minister who will train dozens of illegal outposts in the West Bank will be more limited. The willingness to help him will be almost zero, whether it is a death investigation or an attack in Iran.
Already now the American insistence on conducting an investigation, after all the investigation conducted by Israel on the incident, is tarnishing Israel’s authority and legitimacy to investigate itself. It blows a tail wind in the sails of the Palestinian initiative to judge us at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. If there is also a superseding clause, which will de facto cancel the High Court and its powers, we and our soldiers will go on the fast track to the International Court of War Crimes.
The writer is the military commentator of News 13
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