From Biden says he’s ‘outraged’ by West Bank killing of US activist last week, Israel ‘must do more’ to prevent similar incidents
US President Joe Biden says he is “outraged and deeply saddened” by the death of activist Aysenur Eygi, and says Israel “must do more” to ensure similar incidents do not occur again.
Eygi, an American peace activist, was shot dead in the West Bank last week. Yesterday, the army said she had “with high probability” been hit by IDF troops’ mistaken gunfire. The IDF expressed regret for the killing.
Biden says in a statement that the shooting that led to the US citizen’s death was “totally unacceptable,” and that her “idealism led her to travel to the West Bank to peacefully protest the expansion of settlements.”
“Israel has acknowledged its responsibility for Aysenur’s death, and a preliminary investigation has indicated that it was the result of a tragic error resulting from an unnecessary escalation,” Biden says.
“The US government has had full access to Israel’s preliminary investigation, and expects continued access as the investigation continues, so that we can have confidence in the result. We will continue to stay in close contact with Israeli and Palestinian authorities regarding the circumstances that led to Aysenur’s death,” he says.
“There must be full accountability. And Israel must do more to ensure that incidents like this never happen again,” Biden says.
The US president concluded by saying that the violence in the West Bank has continued for “too long.”
“Violent extremist Israeli settlers are uprooting Palestinians from their homes. Palestinian terrorists are sending car bombs to kill civilians. I will continue to support policies that hold all extremists – Israelis and Palestinians alike – accountable for stoking violence and serving as obstacles to peace,” Biden says.
