The three leaders’ strong comments came after an IDF investigation into the killing of Palestinian-American reporter Shireen Abu Akleh found that errant fire by an Israeli soldier was likely to blame. On Tuesday, US State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said the US “will continue to press our Israeli partners to carefully review their rules of engagement policies and practices and to consider additional mitigation measures of the risk of civilian injury, the protection of journalists and the prevention of similar tragedies. in the future.” “That’s a key goal for us,” Patel said. Speaking at a Navy officer graduation ceremony at the Haifa naval base on Wednesday afternoon, Lapid responded by saying “no one will dictate our rules of engagement.” Get The Times of Israel Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories By signing up, you agree to the terms Lapid said he was hearing “calls to prosecute IDF soldiers after the death of Shireen Abu Akleh” and “calls to change our rules of engagement.” “Israel has expressed its sorrow over her death. It was a tragedy that occurred in an incident in which there was heavy enemy fire. The IDF never deliberately shoots at innocent people. We are deeply committed to freedom of the press and some of the strictest rules of engagement in the world,” Lapid said. Prime Minister Yair Lapid speaks during a graduation ceremony for Navy officers at the Haifa Naval Base, September 7, 2022. (Kobi Gideon/GPO) “But to be clear, I will not allow an IDF soldier who was protecting himself from terrorist fire to be prosecuted just to get applause from abroad,” Lapid continued. “No one will dictate the rules of our engagement when we are the ones fighting for our lives. Our soldiers have the full support of the government of Israel and the people of Israel.” Earlier, Gantz said that only the chief of the Israel Defense Forces can determine the rules of engagement. “The Chief of Staff, and he alone, determines and will continue to determine open fire policies, consistent with the operational needs and values of the IDF, including the purity of weapons,” Gantz said in a statement below. briefing at Military Intelligence headquarters. “Commanders and soldiers strictly enforce the rules. There has been and will be no political involvement in the matter,” Gantz added. Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (R) at an event for foreign ambassadors stationed in Israel, March 6, 2022. (Sivan Shahor Anava/GPO) Speaking to US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides on Wednesday night, Bennett said “American interference in the rules of engagement of IDF soldiers is a dangerous and unacceptable precedent.” Amid the Israeli pushback, the Ynet news website cited diplomatic sources as saying that Jerusalem did not expect the US to put significant pressure on Israel over the issue. Abu Akleh, a 51-year-old Al-Jazeera journalist, was killed while covering a firefight on May 11, during clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants that erupted after the Israeli Defense Forces raided the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank. amid a wider crackdown on terrorism. He was wearing a ‘Press’ vest and a helmet at the time. Israeli soldiers operate in the West Bank, September 7, 2022. (Israel Defense Forces) The Biden administration has for months been pushing Israel to review and possibly reform its open-fire policies, which include calling on a suspect to stop, firing into the air and using lethal force only if a soldier feels threatened. The requests were made during talks US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had with his Israeli counterparts. A Palestinian holds a lit candle and a photo of slain Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh to condemn her killing, in front of the Al Jazeera network office, in Gaza City, May 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Adel Hana, Archive ) The IDF initially blamed Palestinian gunmen for the shooting of Abu Akleh, but later acknowledged that she could also have been killed by Israeli soldiers. After an internal investigation, an Israeli military official told reporters on Monday that a soldier had been identified who “very likely” accidentally shot the journalist, based on the army’s investigation. “He misidentified her. His real-time reports show a mistaken identity,” the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The military said Monday that no criminal activity is suspected in the accidental killing. U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Prime Minister Yair Lapid address the media after their meeting in Jerusalem, July 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) The US State Department’s initial response to the IDF inquiry did not mention ongoing pressure on Israel to reform its rules. “We welcome Israel’s review of this tragic incident and reiterate the importance of accountability in this case, as well as policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said. on Monday. The Palestinian Authority said its own investigation proved Abu Akleh was deliberately targeted and killed by the IDF during the raid – a conclusion Israel has strongly denied. A man stands near the site where Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was fatally shot during clashes between Palestinian militants and Israeli troops during a military raid, in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, on May 11, 2022. (Jaafar Ashtiyeh/ AFP) Abu Akleh’s family and Palestinian leaders accused Washington of failing to hold Israel accountable for the journalist’s murder. The IDF’s release of the findings on Monday followed reported pressure from the US, including during a recent visit by US Assistant Secretary Barbara Leaf. Leaf was in Israel and the West Bank from Thursday to Saturday for a low-profile visit that included meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials. The US State Department said Leaf was in the region “to discuss a range of priorities”, which included “US interest in improving the quality of life of the Palestinian people”. Few details emerged from her visit, although she reportedly told Israeli officials that Washington was concerned by the escalation of violence in the West Bank. You are a devoted reader We are really glad that you read X Times of Israel articles last month. That’s why we started the Times of Israel ten years ago – to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world. So now we have a request. Unlike other media, we have not set up a paywall. But because the journalism we do is expensive, we invite readers to whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community. For just $6 a month you can support our quality journalism by enjoying Times of Israel ADS-FREE, as well as access to exclusive content available only to members of the Times of Israel Community. Thank you, David Horowitz, founding editor of the Times of Israel Join our community Join our community Already a member? 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