Thousands of mourners have gathered in the Judean town of Kiryat Arba near Hevron on Thursday afternoon, for the funeral of Hallel-Yaffa Ariel, the 13-year-old girl murdered in her sleep by an Arab terrorist. The funeral procession began with eulogies outside the Ariel family home in the Ramat Mamre “Charsina” neighborhood at the edge of Kiryat…
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The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations issued the following statement:
Thursday, June 30, 2016 New York, NY… Leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations condemned the heinous murder of 13-year-old Hallel Yaffa Ariel in Kiryat Arba. It is hard to imagine the evil, extremist incitement that drives a 19-year-old man to such a barbaric act – an innocent child asleep in her bed brutally murdered. By all accounts she was a sweet, talented, wonderful child. She was also an American citizen. This heinous attack is the result of the continuous incitement by Palestinian officials, media, schools, and imams. We, like the leaders of Israel and the United States, have repeatedly called for an end to the incitement largely led by the Palestinian Authority and its chairman, Mahmoud Abbas. This is not a precondition to negotiations, it is not a concession or gesture. It is a fundamental responsibility and the failure to act until now has taken a heavy toll on life and limb. The international community has tolerated this for too long. Chairman Abbas must be told with no exceptions, time has run out. Stop all incitement, all rewards and honors to terrorists, no more pensions for those who kill or maim, no more half-hearted statements.
Congress should pass the legislation currently before it to cut US aid to the PA by an amount equivalent to all payments to terrorists or their families for the tributes to terrorists. We note the State Department has reduced allocations to the PA for money to terrorists.
The glorification and compensation of terrorists by the PA and the drumbeat of hate-filled rhetoric by authorities encourages a climate of violence and hatred and hinders the chances to advance a peace process.
The Conference of Presidents sends its condolences to the Ariel family and prays for the wounded security guard.
The Anti-Defamation League issued this statement:
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed horror and outrage over the brutal murder of a 13-year-old Israeli girl by a 17-year-old Palestinian terrorist.
Hallel Ariel was stabbed to death by the terrorist, who entered her bedroom in the settlement of Kiryat Arba earlier today. The attacker, who was shot and killed by a security guard, had reportedly posted on social media of his intentions to be a martyr.
“This tragic attack on an innocent girl asleep in her bed must lead to consistent and unequivocal condemnation – as well as a commitment by the international community – to call out Palestinian terrorism and incitement,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “Just last week, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gave a speech in which he justified terror and propagated anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. It is time for international leaders to stand up to Palestinian provocations, incitement and excuses for terrorism and violence.
“We extend our condolences to Hallel’s family and friends,” Mr. Greenblatt said.
Later in the day, a stabbing attack took place in Netanya, which seriously wounded two. The attacker, a Palestinian man from the West Bank village of Tulkarem, was killed at the scene.