Israeli national flag. /AP
Israeli national flag. /AP
Israel signalled opposition on Wednesday to U.S. calls to review rules of engagement in the occupied West Bank as it pressed on with a near-daily series of operations against militants in the area in which dozens of Palestinians have been killed.
"No one will dictate our rules of engagement to us, when we are the ones fighting for our lives," Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said at a military ceremony in Haifa.
The State Department said on Tuesday that Washington will urge Israel to review its rules of engagement practices after its military concluded that Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was likely shot unintentionally by an Israeli soldier.
The Palestinians have accused Israel of deliberately targeting Abu Akleh, who was killed on May 11 while covering an Israeli raid in the Palestinian militant stronghold city Jenin. Israel denies this.
"Israel has expressed sorrow over her death. It was a tragedy that transpired in an incident in which there was heavy enemy fire. The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) never intentionally shoots at innocent people," Lapid said.
Echoing earlier remarks by Defence Minister Banny Gantz, Lapid, who is hoping to win a Nov. 1 election, said only Israel's chief of staff determines its policy on rules of engagement.
(With input from Reuters)