World reacts to synagogue slayings

David A. Harris
David A. Harris

NEW YORK (Press Release) –AJC praised world leaders who have spoken out against Tuesday’s deadly Palestinian terror attack on a Jerusalem synagogue during morning prayers. Four worshipers were killed and at least six others wounded by the two terrorists who struck with guns, axes and knives.

“Jerusalem is on edge, thanks to Palestinian incitement from the top of the Palestinian Authority, as well as its unity government partner Hamas,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris. “We applaud those leaders who have spoken out quickly, forcefully, and unequivocally in the face of this barbaric attack.”

This is a sampling of statements to date:

  • U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the attack “a pure result of incitement,” and laudably urged the Palestinian leadership “to take serious steps to restrain any kind of incitement that comes from their language, from other people’s language, and exhibit the kind of leadership that is necessary to put this region on a different path.”
  • French President François Hollande condemned “the heinous terrorist attack carried out this morning in Jerusalem, as well as those people who dared to praise the act.”
  • Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird, denouncing what he called a “savage terrorist attack,” said “attacks on innocent worshipers, in what is supposed to be a place of peace and tranquility, are cowardly and must never be tolerated.”
  • German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: “The fact that a place of worship has now become the scene of deadly attacks targeting innocent believers is a terrible transgression in an already extremely tense situation.”
  • Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa said: “The murder of Jews praying in a synagogue is a crime.”

In other reactions:

Jewish Federation of San Diego: We are shocked and appalled by the horrific attack on innocent worshipers that took place in Jerusalem earlier today. As a community, we send our condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. This despicable and reprehensible act of terrorism took the lives of at least four innocent civilians and injured many others. Early reports suggest that several of the victims were American citizens, and some were rabbis. The recent wave of terror attacks and acts of violence in Israel is outrageous and completely unacceptable, but today’s attack on innocent people praying in a synagogue is incomprehensible. We call on the entire global community to join us in condemning this attack in the strongest possible terms, immediately and unconditionally. We all stand together in our concern and support for the people of Israel and all peace-loving peoples throughout the region.

Americans for Peace Now: (The organization is) “horrified and outraged by today’s savage terrorist attack on Jewish worshipers at a Jerusalem synagogue today, which left four innocent civilians dead and others injured.  APN strongly condemns this attack. We stand with the people of Israel. Our hearts are with the families that have been broken by today’s attack. We wish full and rapid recovery to those who were injured.  Jerusalem is bleeding. At this time, Israelis and Palestinian leaders bear a heavy responsibility. They must put an end to inflammatory actions and rhetoric that would further intensify the bloodshed. They must fight terrorism and incitement. At the same time, they must also seek ways to engage diplomatically to reach a political settlement for the conflict – the only way to avoid perpetual bloodletting between Israelis and Palestinians.

Word Jewish Congress  President Ronald Lauder said: “Our hearts go out to the victims of this heinous crime and to their families.” Lauder added that the bloodbath in the Kehilat Bnei Torah Synagogue in Har Nof was “obviously the result of an orchestrated campaign by Palestinian groups whose sole aim is to incite to hatred and violence against Jews.” He welcomed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ condemnation of the attack but said that in order to be credible Abbas had to stop the “vicious incitement against Israelis that is happening on his watch. Instead of opposing the extremists in his own ranks, Mr. Abbas has been placating them. If he wants to retain any credibility he must show strong, unequivocal leadership now. Failure to do so would have catastrophic consequences and would probably put a stop to the peace process for many years to come. The next weeks will show if he is a credible Palestinian leader.”

Republican Jewish Coalition: (David Flaum): On behalf of the leaders, members, and staff of the Republican Jewish Coalition, I offer our sincere condolences to the families of those murdered in this horrifying evil act. It is our heartfelt hope that they will be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. We offer our prayers for peace and healing to the injured, to their families, and to all Israelis confronting the scourge of vicious terrorism. And we call on American policy-makers to offer appropriate support and solidarity at this solemn moment. Secretary of State Kerry was right to place a heavy measure of responsibility for this horror on a Palestinian leadership that has tacitly and explicitly encouraged terrorist violence. We urge members of the Obama administration to adhere to this standard of moral clarity in all their statements and actions during the difficult days ahead.

Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations: Robert Sugarman, Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, “expressed condolences to the families of the four Israeli citizens killed this morning while at prayer in a brutal and barbaric terrorist attack, perpetrated by two Arab residents of East Jerusalem. This heinous act once again underscores the demand for President Abbas and other Palestinian leaders to end their constant incitement, calls to violence and expressions of support for those who carry out terrorist acts. We call on our own government, which has strongly denounced this outrage, and world leaders to make clear this will not be tolerated and that all who contribute to terrorism will be held to account, including President Abbas. Such actions reward those who work against peaceful coexistence and engage in or encourage terrorism. There are no words that adequately describe our revulsion. We express our sincerest condolences to the families of the four who were killed, three of whom were American citizens and one who was a British citizen. We stand in solidarity with the people of Israel and pray that the unity shown today can be carried forward as the people of Israel and Jewish communities around the world unite to fight anti-Semitism, terrorism and the anti-Israel delegitimization campaign. We stand with the government of Israel as it seeks to protect all of its citizens and assure safety on its borders and in its cities.”

StandWithUs shares the heart-wrenching grief and horror of Israel, the worldwide Jewish and pro-Israel community and international leaders at the savage attack by two Palestinian terrorists at Jerusalem’s Har Nof Synagogue this morning.  Our hearts go out to the bereaved families of the four murdered rabbis, and we pray for the 8 worshippers and police officer who were seriously injured and are now fighting for their lives. “This attack on Jews praying in the sanctuary of a synagogue did not happen in a vacuum. We have been shocked by the abhorrent attacks against Jews in the streets  of Jerusalem over the past two months. Palestinian leaders, from Hamas to Palestinian Islamic Jihad  to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas himself, regularly invite this kind of violence. They whip up a frenzy of anti-Jewish hatred, glorify terrorists, spread lies including blood libels, and deny the Jewish people’s historical connection to Israel and its holy cities and sites.  We urge the international community to unequivocally condemn this dangerous incitement, and to demand that Palestinian leaders teach peace to their people instead of hatred and violence,” said  Roz Rothstein, CEO of StandWithUs.  A society can be judged by how it treats its criminals. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are praising the synagogue attack, and in Gaza, people are celebrating the murders.  President Abbas issued a condemnation, but took no responsibility for his role in inviting this violence, and did not indicate that he would change course.  “We hope the international community wakes up to the reality that Israel seeks peace but that there can be no progress while Palestinian leaders seek the elimination of Israel and call for ongoing terrorism against its citizens,” said StandWithUs UK Chairman Joy Wolfe. Our ongoing heartfelt prayers are with the grief-stricken families and for those who were injured in the Har Nof attack.
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Preceding collated from news releases sent to San Diego Jewish World