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Reuters
Reuters
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Jeffrey Heller GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Hostilities between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group that runs Gaza escalated on Tuesday as each side attacked the other with aerial bombardments that recalled their last major conflict in 2014. A 13-story residential block in Gaza collapsed after one of several dozen Israeli air strikes, albeit after an Israeli warning, as Israelis reported explosions and sirens more than 70 km (45 miles) up the coast from Gaza. Thirty-one people were reported dead: 28 in Gaza and three in Israel. Late into the night, Gazans reported …
Barry Shaw of the Netanya-based Israel Institute for Strategic Studies commented:
In a rocket attack on the town of Lod, a father and his 16 year-old daughter were killed.
There was little coincidence that Hamas should have targeted Lod after some of the town’s Arabs went on the rampage setting fire to dozens of vehicles and, even more significantly, torched three synagogues.
A state of emergency was declared on Lod as special forces have arrived in the town to root out the perpetrators.
This incident underlines the anti-Semitic motive of a month long Arab violence against Jews.
The recent violence has been incited by Hamas in Gaza and by Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, and Israeli Arabs have revelled in targeting vulnerable Jews for physical assault and lynching in place like Jaffa, Hebron, and Jerusalem after which they promoted their violence on Tik Tok.
The irony of Lod is that the couple that were killed by the Hamas rocket were both Israeli Arabs. The sixteen year-old girl who died was named as Nadine Awad.
Responding to Hamas rocket fire directed at Israeli territory in the wake of the unrest in Jerusalem, World Jewish Congress President Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder said:
“World Jewry and decent people everywhere deplore the latest senseless escalation of violence with renewed rocket attacks on Israel. Hamas has time and again demonstrated its wanton disregard for human life and its unwillingness to accept the existence of a Jewish State in any borders at all. Under these circumstances, Israel has no choice but to respond with the force necessary to protects its citizens and put a stop to this threat.”
Ron Klein and Halie Sofer, respectively the chairman and CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council, issued this statement:
Jewish Dems are deeply concerned about the escalation of violence in Israel, and strongly and unequivocally condemn Hamas and Islamic Jihad rocket fire from Gaza. There is no justification for these attacks and Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism. In this regard, we are incredibly grateful for the U.S. investment in Israel’s missile defense system, Iron Dome, which is saving lives. No nation should be subjected to the barrage of rocket fire, and one need look no further than over the skies of Tel Aviv – where Iron Dome batteries are targeting rockets headed toward population centers – to see U.S. support of Israel in action. Read JDCA’s statement from yesterday by clicking on here or on the image below.
In recent days, we have expressed concern about the situation in Sheikh Jarrah and Jerusalem, and urged restraint in the face of rising tension and violence in and around Jerusalem and proposed evictions. It’s clear that extremists on both sides have engaged in provocations, and it is incumbent on all sides to refrain from actions that inflame an already volatile situation. We implore Israeli and Palestinian leaders to restore calm, and appreciate steps that have already been taken by the Israeli government. We also appreciate the ongoing efforts of the Biden administration to encourage de-escalation, as well as the safety and security of Israelis and Palestinians. This includes President Biden’s unwavering support for Israel’s right to self-defense, including through the Iron Dome. We are hoping that, in addition to saving lives, these efforts will lead to stability, security and peace.
StandWithUs issued the following statement:
Hamas has been inciting and organizing violent protests in Jerusalem for the last several weeks, the newest development in their ongoing terror campaign that has included setting fire to swathes of Israeli land, shooting 19-year old Israeli teenager Yehuda Guetta, to death and perpetrating several recent terror attacks. One senior Hamas leader, Fathi Hammad, was televised on May 7 inciting to murder, saying, “People of Jerusalem, we want you to cut off the heads of the Jews with knives. With your hand, cut their artery from here.”
Sadly, this is not new. For a century, long before the establishment of Israel, extremists from the Nazi collaborator, Palestinian Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, have been promoting conspiracy theories about “the Jews” threatening to destroy the Al-Aqsa mosque. This weaponized rhetoric of “Al Aqsa is in danger” lie has been used repeatedly by Palestinian and Arab leaders to incite violence against Israelis and Jews in general. Inevitably people have died as a result. The truth is, of course, that only since Israel has overseen Jerusalem is there equal and free access to people of all backgrounds to pray at their respective holy sites.
Hamas, its allies and supporters – the Islamic Republic of Iran, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah – explicitly call for the destruction of the State of Israel and the subjugation of all its Jewish citizens. Those who support this agenda are partners in hate and are adversaries of peace.
Hamas’s heavy-fisted misrule of Gaza is a travesty of justice. Named by Forbes Magazine as the third richest terror group in the world, Hamas does not use its resources to build a peaceful future for their people by investing in civilian infrastructure. Instead Hamas has spent billions of dollars turning the Gaza Strip into a militarized armed camp. Hamas has built a network of sophisticated tunnels under Gaza and cross-border attack tunnels designed to send terror squads to kidnap and attack Israeli civilians. Hamas uses its millions on weapons factories and to purchase missiles from Iran, anti-tank weapons, assault rifles, mortars, grenades, anti-personnel mines and much more.
Roz Rothstein, co-founder and CEO StandWithUs stated, “People of the Middle East and around the world can contrast the success of the Abraham Accords and the warm relations now enjoyed between Gulf Arab States and Israel with the failures of Hamas and Palestinian Authority leaders to accept the Jewish State, normalize relations with it and make any credible moves towards peace. Instead, Hamas is attempting to escalate conflict, to perpetrate terror attacks and massacre Israelis. All leaders and people of goodwill should condemn Hamas and radical leaders who are an obstacle for a better future for all people in the region.”
David Bramzon, chair of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, issued the following statement:
We are in the midst of a dangerous security situation in Israel that began yesterday on Jerusalem Day and has continued with more than 300 rockets being fired on the south of Israel. Many Israelis have been wounded, buildings and homes damaged, and sadly, two Israeli causalities are confirmed. Because the events of the last few days have been spread across multiple locations and points of conflict, JFNA’s office in Israel thought it would be helpful to collect all the main facts in one summary document for your information and use. The document is linked here for your reference. https://cdn.fedweb.org/fed-28/102/JFNA%2520Jerusalem%2520Update.pdf You may also watch a briefing from earlier today with Ambassador Dr. Michael Oren and Jewish Agency Chairman Isaac Herzog on the emergency situation. https://www.jewishagency.org/special-briefing-05-2021/
While this escalation of violence is affecting Israelis everywhere, we are keenly aware of what is taking place in our partnership region on the Gaza border. We also acknowledge that quite a few San Diegans are currently visiting Israel, some of whom are being forced into shelters as the rockets fly into Israel. This event is hitting many of us personally and we are deeply concerned.
We are actively pursuing opportunities to support the needs of those on the ground and will keep you informed as we learn more.
We pray for a speedy return to quiet and calm on all fronts.
Washington, DC (May 11, 2021) –– Republican Jewish Coalition National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman released the following statement today:
The responsibility for the ongoing rocket attacks against Israel lies solely with Hamas and Fatah, who incite violence, carry out violence, subsidize violence, and reward violence against Israelis. Israel is defending her citizens once again from murderous weapons fired randomly into populated areas – indiscriminately wounding and killing Jews and non-Jews alike – while the IDF warns Palestinian civilians away before pinpoint targeting rocket launchers in Gaza.
The United States has, in the recent past, broken new ground for peace in the region with the Abraham Accords. This historic achievement was based on a foundation of unwavering American government support for Israel’s legitimacy, permanency, and security. That foundation has been weakened by the Biden administration’s outreach to Iran and perceived softening toward the Palestinian Authority. Now Democratic leaders have allowed the false, anti-Israel social media attacks of radical Democrats like Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib to go unchallenged.
The Republican Jewish Coalition stands with Israel and calls on America’s leaders to offer Israel every possible means of support in this time of crisis. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Israel, for life, safety, and peace.
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement:
“I am horrified by the reports and videos of violence in Jerusalem. The forced evictions in Sheikh Jarrah, the raid of Al Aqsa Mosque as worshipers prayed during Ramadan, and the escalation of violence by Hamas and the Israeli government have all swiftly and gravely damaged the long-term goals of peace for the region.
“As a Jewish woman, this crisis is deeply personal. I have close family living in Israel, and as violence escalates, I am worried for their and everyone’s safety in the region.
“I urge President Biden and Secretary Blinken to use all diplomatic efforts to de-escalate this situation — to forcefully stand against violence, to unequivocally denounce the killing of civilians and children, and to reaffirm our support of long-term peace and stability in the region.
“Violence is violence — whether it is committed by our allies or our adversaries. Our leadership on the world stage demands that we speak up for what is right, even when – and especially when – it is inconvenient or uncomfortable.”