These are the reasons that led the police to use force at the press funeral of Sheerin Abu Akala | Israel today

After the police announced yesterday (Wednesday) the submission of the findings of an investigation into police activity at the funeral of journalist Sheerin Abu Aqla to Minister of Internal Security Bar-Lev, Israel Today learned that among the conclusions of the investigation were the reasons for using force with the police.

The political echelon ordered the commissioner not to publish the investigation for fear of escalation.

One of the main reasons for the use of force is the violation of the summary of the journalist's family members in front of the police.

According to the investigation, the plan was for the funeral to take place from the hospital in a convoy of about 20 vehicles, but this did not happen.

In practice, rioters unrelated to the funeral procession infiltrated the hospital grounds and began removing the coffin on foot.

"This is one of the reasons the police had to use force," the investigation said.

"This was accompanied by the throwing of stones at the forces and songs of praise to the martyrs when she was a Christian at all."

Sheerin Abu Akla killed in Jenin, Photo: Arab networks

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Police allege that violating the agreement with the family members, along with the violence and incitement, forced the forces to enter the hospital grounds and forcibly disperse the instigators.

"Even before it left, the funeral became a great campaign of incitement and calls for harm to Jews, which required the forces to use force," say officials in the Ministry of Internal Security.

It should be noted that although the investigation also revealed deficiencies in the use of force, the investigation team praised the activities of the police while endangering their lives in order to allow the funeral to take place according to the agreement in advance.

Fear of escalation: The political echelon ordered to refrain from publishing the investigation

Meanwhile, Israel Today has learned that the political echelon has instructed the Commissioner of Police to refrain from publishing the investigation for fear of escalation, even though the investigation was presented to the Minister of Internal Security in its entirety yesterday. Accompanied by journalist Sheerin Abu Akala, it was agreed and presented to the police commissioner.

As you may recall, on May 14, Bar-Lev issued the following statement: "The Israel Police acted yesterday to allow the funeral procession of journalist Sheerin Abu Aqla to take place properly, in coordination with her family and with a clear understanding of the sensitivity and complexity of the incident.

Funeral of Sheerin Abu Akla: Police clear a road leading to the car of the journalist who was killed in Jenin // Archive photo: Police spokeswoman

"Unfortunately, during the funeral, serious violent incidents developed on the part of the participants, which worsened the situation on the ground. The funeral - will conduct a comprehensive investigation in the coming day on what happened during the funeral, in order to learn lessons from the event.

"These lessons will be presented to the Commissioner of Police and then to me," said Minister Bar-Lev at the time.

Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai commented on the investigation: "The funeral procession of journalist Sheerin Abu Aqla was a complex event.

It is impossible to remain indifferent to the harsh images and we must interrogate so that sensitive events such as these are not violently disturbed by rioters and respect the class.

Under my guidance, the police will investigate the conduct of the forces on the ground, with the aim of drawing lessons and improving the operational conduct of similar incidents in the future.

I trust the hands of the Israel Police officers, who will continue to do their job faithfully for the safety of the entire public. "

Bar-Lev's entourage and the police refused to comment

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