And over at the State Department:-
QUESTION: You called – late on Friday you issued a fairly strong statement in your name calling for a speedy and transparent investigation into the killing of a U.S. citizen apparently by – or your statement said by the Israeli Defense Forces. It’s been 48 hours since – more than that, actually – 60 hours, say, since you issued that statement. Have you yet seen a speedy and transparent or speedy or transparent investigation by the Israelis?
MS. PSAKI: Well, Arshad, I don’t have a day-to-day evaluation of the investigation. We remain closely engaged with authorities. Our consulate-general in Jerusalem is in contact with the family, but obviously, we want to see that investigation rapidly concluded.
…QUESTION: Could you take that one for us? Because you asked — MS. PSAKI: I will let you know if there’s more that we can convey. QUESTION: — publicly for a speedy investigation. More than two days has gone by. A U.S. citizen is dead, and it — MS. PSAKI: I’m well aware. That’s why we put out the statement on Friday.
…QUESTION: Is the U.S. Government involved in the investigation? Have any – is the FBI involved in any way, or if this is the Israeli Defense Force — MS. PSAKI: Local authorities have the lead, Elise. Not that I’m aware of. QUESTION: Well – but, I mean, usually in the killing of an American citizen – I mean, usually the FBI or some other kind of U.S. law enforcement agency would be involved in the investigation. You’re just leaving it up to the Israelis to investigate these – supposed Israeli killing of an American citizen? MS. PSAKI: I will check to see if there are any U.S. officials involved. QUESTION: Jen, there was another U.S. citizen who was killed in – last week as well, a child. And you put out a statement — MS. PSAKI: We did. QUESTION: — about that as well, Actually, a baby, I guess, is the correct — MS. PSAKI: Yes. A three-month-old baby. QUESTION: Yes. How is the investigation into that going? MS. PSAKI: I don’t have any updates on the investigations. I would encourage you all to ask the Israeli authorities that question.
…QUESTION: Hold on, Elise. Several months ago, there was a shooting – there was an incident involving a shooting of some Palestinian youths. They weren’t Americans, but you called at that time for an – this was the video, the one that was captured on videotape. Are you aware of the results of that Israeli investigation?
…QUESTION: In the case of the Palestinian American teenager who was killed on Friday, are you – do you know the circumstances under which he was shot?
MS. PSAKI: I don’t have any more details.
QUESTION: There are – okay. The reason I ask is because there are reports out there that he was throwing Molotov cocktails at cars on a highway. And I’m wondering, if that is the case, would you have still been so speedy in putting out a statement and offering your condolences to the family? The argument that is being made by some in Israel is that this kid was essentially a terrorist. And you don’t agree with that, I assume, but I don’t know, so that’s why I’m asking.
MS. PSAKI: Correct, we don’t. I don’t have any more details on the circumstances now.
QUESTION: So you – does that – that would apply even if he was throwing Molotov cocktails?
MS. PSAKI: I’m not going to speculate. I don’t have details to share.
