Catholic leader blasts Israeli conduct at journalist funeral

By LAURIE KELLMAN and AREEJ HAZBOUN
Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — The top Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land says Israel’s police attack on mourners during a funeral for an Al Jazeera journalist was a “severe” violation of human rights. Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa spoke on Monday from St. Joseph Hospital in Jerusalem. He said the police beating mourners as they carried Shireen Abu Akleh’s casket was a disproportionate use of force that “disrespected” the Catholic Church. He added that Israel committed a “severe violation” of international norms. Israel and the Palestinians are wrangling over the investigation into Abu Akleh’s killing last Wednesday. One independent research team says there’s evidence that Israeli troops fired the fatal bullet.