Reaffirms France's Position, President Macron Urges Israel To Complete Investigation Into Death Of Al Jazeera Journalist

President Prancis Emmanuel Macron. (Wikimedia Commons/Jacques Paquier)

JAKARTA - French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Israel to complete a swift investigation into the death of a Palestinian journalist who was killed last week in an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday.

Veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot dead on Wednesday. His death, and Israeli police violence against mourners at his funeral two days later, have sparked Palestinian and international outrage.

"The president said he was moved by the death of Shireen Abu Akleh and reiterated France's position that a swift conclusion of the investigation is needed," the French presidential office said, following a phone call between President Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

It is known that Israel and the Palestinians are conducting separate investigations into his death and the two remain at loggerheads over the fatal shooting.

Palestinians accused Israel of killing him and called for an international response. Meanwhile, Israel has denied targeting him, saying he may have been shot accidentally by a soldier or by a Palestinian gunman as they exchanged fire.

The French presidential office also said President Macron had also expressed concern about Israel's recent decision to press ahead with more than 4,000 new settlement homes in the West Bank, land Palestinians seek for a state.

Meanwhile, most countries in the world consider the settlements illegal under international law, a position Israel rejects.

Separately, a statement from Bennett's office after the call did not mention Abu Akleh or the settlement.

It added that President Macron and PM Bennett would coordinate efforts to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The two leaders have so far engaged in fruitless diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing peace to Ukraine.