Israeli leaders discuss Shireen Abu Akleh probe before Biden visit

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Wednesday discussed the investigation into the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the run-up to US President Joe Biden's visit to Israel next month, according to the Israeli state-owned broadcaster Kan.

The meeting between the two Israeli leaders happened in the Knesset, in anticipation of fresh international criticism over Israel's handling of the veteran reporter's killing before Biden's visit.

Abu Akleh was shot dead on 11 May, while reporting on Israeli raids on the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. The Al Jazeera journalist was killed by an Israeli army sniper, according to numerous eyewitness accounts and investigations.

Israel initially said Abu Akleh had been killed by Palestinian militants, but soon backtracked, saying it could not definitively say whether she had been killed by Israeli or Palestinian fire.

The military has said it is continuing to investigate the killing, but that it needs the bullet that killed Abu Akleh to determine who shot her - though Israeli army chief Aviv Kochavi said last month that a probe had found that none of his soldiers had "deliberately" shot Abu Akleh.

The Palestinian Authority has refused to hand over the bullet, saying it does not trust Israel to conduct an honest investigation.

US senators have called for a "transparent" investigation into the dual US-Palestinian national's death - though US officials have ruled out a probe by Washington.

After weeks of speculation, The White House confirmed on Tuesday that Biden would be visiting Israel, the occupied Palestinian West Bank and Saudi Arabia, from 13-16 July.

On the visit, Biden will "reaffirm the ironclad commitment to Israel's security" and restore US ties with Palestinians, a US official said.