The American government continues to express faith in Israel’s ability to investigate the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, but the good news is there is widespread contempt for such credulity. On MSNBC, Mehdi Hasan interviewed Shireen’s niece, Lina Abu Akleh, who said of State Department statements: “How many Americans have to be killed for the Biden administration to act?” While NBC’s Raf Sanchez documented that Israel buried any investigation of its killing of journalist Yaser Murtaja in 2018.

The new Israeli government this week moved forward on plans to build 3000 more settlement units in the West Bank; and yesterday the State Department issued its strongest opposition to the plans since Joe Biden took office, calling the plans “unacceptable.” The State Department spokesperson said yesterday the U.S. “strongly” opposes the expansion of settlements.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price is asked whether Palestinians have a right to self-defense similar to Israel. You can guess the response.

The State Department briefing is turning into a forum for reporters who are impatient with the charade of a two-state solution. Said Arikat asks what the US is doing about his cousin Ahmed Erekat’s killing at an Israeli military checkpoint in the occupied West Bank last June, and the “torment” of his family because Israel won’t release Ahmed’s body.