Bennett responds like an abuser, with gaslighting not compassion

The Prime Minister's response to the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh mirrors the dynamics of abuse, writes ELANA SZTOKMAN

IMMEDIATELY after Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed during a gunfight in Jenin last week, two opposing sets of reactions illustrated a toxic dynamic that remains at the root of this conflict.

From the Palestinian side, people were wailing in agony and anger. The killing of their star anchor – a woman with a 25-year visual presence in their world akin to that of Barbara Walters in the US or Tracy Grimshaw in Australia – was shocking and seemed personal.

The anger also reflects a deep-seated fear that if there are no protections for journalists – who are essential protectors of democracy and human rights – then nobody is safe. 

Palestinians have been trying to get the world’s attention about this for some time. Two weeks ago, the International Federation of Journalists filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court over "Israel’s systematic targeting of journalists working in Palestine". Three days before Shireen’s death, IDF soldiers were caught on camera beating and arresting Palestinian journalist Basil Al-Adraa.

But while Palestinians dealt with their grief, anger, and fear, Israeli leadership reacted as if they are living in an alternate universe. PM Naftali Bennett’s first statement was that the Palestinians probably killed her. There was no remorse, no sadness, no acknowledgement of the pain. Just an immediate, knee jerk version of “They’re lying” and “They did it to themselves”.

To be sure, the investigation of the death has not been completed and has predictably become a political tug of war. But Bennett’s reaction is so tone-deaf and obnoxious that it tells us everything we need to know about how our leaders relate to this conflict.