SAN DIEGO (SDJW)–American Jewish organizations reacted with horror and condemnation to the announcement that Jewish extremists were behind the murder of an Arab teenager who was burned to death. Among those reacting were the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Here are their statements:
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said it was “outraged and horrified” by the apparent despicable revenge killing of a Palestinian youth and commended Israeli police for the arrest earlier today of six Jewish extremist suspects in connection with the crime.
Sixteen-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir was kidnapped from his East Jerusalem neighborhood on July 2 and his beaten and mutilated body was found in the Jerusalem Forest hours later. Reports indicate he was burned alive. Police say the initial investigation has determined the Palestinian youth was murdered by Israeli Jewish extremists in an act of revenge for the abduction and murder of three Israeli teens, who were buried on July 1 after their bodies were recovered in the West Bank.
Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement: “We are outraged and horrified that this heinous attack is believed to have been carried out by Israeli Jewish extremists, who sought out and brutally murdered an innocent Palestinian teen.
“Unbridled extremist hatred was behind the kidnapping and murder of Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach, who are mourned around the world. We cannot shirk from the recognition that unbridled, extremist hatred may have led to the kidnapping and murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir as well. The Israeli authorities must fully investigate this crime and prosecute all those responsible for this murder to the fullest extent of the law.
“Only a full investigation and vigorous criminal prosecution will ensure justice for Mohammed Abu Khdeir, while sending a message to anyone else who might consider such an act that extremism, vigilantism and revenge killings will not be tolerated in Israeli society and are anathema to Jewish values.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Mohammed.”
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AJC commended Israeli authorities for apprehending the suspects in the brutal murder of Muhammed Abu Khieder, while expressing shock and dismay about those who perpetrated such a heinous crime against a Palestinian youth.
“That several Israelis are believed to be involved in this murder is despicable and shameful,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris. “By taking the life of a young Palestinian as an apparent act of revenge, they have desecrated God’s name and, at the same time, done nothing to ease the immense suffering of all those who mourn the tragic murder of the three Israeli teenagers. By seeking to take the law into their own hands, they have undermined the authority of the state. And by the very nature of their crime, if convicted, they deserve the harshest possible prison sentence. No citizen in a democratic country, and Israel laudably is just such a country, is above the law. As Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly said, Israel has the capacity and will to defend itself. It cannot and will not condone those who wish to live by the law of the jungle.”
Abu Khieder was abducted last week from the Jerusalem neighborhood where his family lives and reportedly was burned alive by his abductors. Two days earlier, the bodies of three Israeli Jews — Naftali Fraenkal, Gilad Shaar, and Eyal Yifrach — were found, after an 18-day search, near Hebron, having been kidnapped and killed by Palestinian supporters of Hamas.
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Robert G. Sugarman, Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations:
“We learned with anguish and sorrow that the investigation by Israeli authorities appears to have determined that the perpetrators of the murder of Muhammed Abu Khdeir are Israeli citizens. There is no justification for such an heinous attack by self-styled vigilantes. We condemn this attack, as we did the murder of the th1ree Israeli youths by Arab terrorists last week and we extend our sincere condolences to the Khdeir family.”
“We urge Israeli Arab and Palestinian leaders to work with Israeli officials to stop the violence that has been escalating over recent days. We commend the Israeli government and services for their intensive investigation that has led to these arrests and urge that the perpetrators be brought to the bar of justice as soon as possible.”
“We also urge that measures be implemented to stop all incitement to violence whatever and whoever the source. There has been much suffering this week and we pray that it will come to a quick end. All violations of the law must and will be thoroughly examined.”
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Preceding compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff
This is very puzzling. Why are these three organizations jockeying to be the first to denounce what is unarguably a horrible crime? Why the rush? They don’t even know the identity of the killers, assuming it is confirmed that they are Jewish Israelis. The whole thing is so fishy that a little more caution would be in order. According to one report, the police said they couldn’t reconcile the whereabouts of the alleged killers for two hours between Mohammed’s actual kidnapping and the discovery of his body. Additionally, the gruesome execution (allegedly forcing him to drink gasoline before setting him on fire is something that was just invented… in Syria, where the ISIS nuts’ creative genius led them to come up with this abominable way to intimidate their opponents, including children). This is the stuff of incredibly callous and cruel individuals. No matter angered some Jews may have been by the killing of the three young Israelis (and all of Israel is seething with rage at the gratuitous murder right now), I cannot believe that any Jew could do something so monstruous. Time will tell. Now, did the three aforementioned organizations pronounce the same solemn condemnations following the murder of 19-year Shelly Dadon by an Arab-Israeli cab driver? No? Why? It’s ok for a Jewish girl (or boys) to be murdered by an Israeli Arab or a Palestinian, but it’s not ok for a Palestinian kid to be murdered by Israeli Jews? ALL should get the same treatment and be condemned in the same terms.