A truck loaded with weapons barreled through a crowd of Bastille Day revelers gathered Thursday to watch a fireworks display in the southern French resort city of Nice, fatally crushing people for more than a mile in what officials described as the latest in a string of deadly terrorist attacks to hit Europe. At least 80…
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The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews released this statement:
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship), the main organization helping Jews of France immigrate to Israel (make aliyah), has received thousands of recent inquiries from French Jews seeking to go to Israel and expects that number to climb following Thursday’s terror attack in Nice.
The Fellowship in June brought 82 Jews from across France to Israel, and, additionally, is preparing to bring more than 150 to Israel this month, including several Nice families. French Jews in this seaside city were attending a Fellowship aliyah meeting Thursday evening one block from where a terrorist rammed a truck filled with munitions into a large crowd celebrating Bastille Day, in one of the country’s worst terrorist attacks. An estimated 84 men, women and children were killed and many more were injured. According to media reports, two French-Jewish women, Clara Bensimon, 80, and her sister Raymonde Mamane, 77, were among five Jews wounded in the Nice attack.
The Fellowship says it has received more than 5,100 calls and hundreds of emails from French Jews inquiring about aliyah in recent months, and now Fellowship officials expect that number to climb amid the attack in Nice, the latest to strike France over the past year.
“We mourn for the victims of this despicable attack and pray for a speedy recovery for those who were hurt,” said Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder and president of The Fellowship. “Sadly, this horrific attack underscores the pressing need to help bring as many Jews who wish to leave France to their homeland in Israel, and this is what we will continue to do.”
The French-Jewish aliyah is part of The Fellowship’s global aliyah initiative to bring Jews facing economic and security threats to Israel. In recent months The Fellowship has helped over 2,000 Jews make aliyah, not only from France but also from other countries where Jews face economic and security challenges including Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela, Turkey and Ukraine. The Fellowship has also been funding security upgrades at French-Jewish communal institutions, including schools and synagogues, in the wake of terror attacks over the past year.
Several of the Jews leaving France with The Fellowship say they are escaping what has become an intolerable situation for the Jewish community. Some describe being afraid to wear yarmulkes outdoors or to display any other visible signs of being Jews, while others say they are growing increasingly concerned about radical Islamic anti-Semitism.
The American Jewish Committee released this statement:
AJC is appalled by the horrific terror attack in Nice, France, that left 84 dead and more than 100 injured. The terrorist, apparently a 31-year-old French-Tunisian who acted alone, used a large truck as a weapon to mow down dozens gathered to celebrate Bastille Day, the French national holiday.
“The boundless depravity of terrorists who attack our society and our people challenges us to redouble our resolve to live, celebrate our freedoms, and defeat those who seek our destruction,” said AJC Europe Director Simone Rodan-Benzaquen. The Nice attack was the third fatal jihadist assault in France in the past 18 months. It comes only eight months after the murderous ISIS attacks in Paris and three months after the latest, deadly attacks in Brussels.
“It is heartbreaking to see that the lives of so many women, children, and men have been taken in pure brutality at a moment when France was celebrating Bastille Day, which commemorates the noble values of liberté, egalité et fraternité,” said Rodan-Benzaquen.
“France, as well as all democratic societies across Europe and around the world, is reminded that we are at war, that the tumor of radical Islam continues to grow,” she said. “Nations and people of good will need to come together, cooperate more strongly, and impose more security measures, while at the same time preserving our democratic values and liberty.”
The Zionist Organization of America released the following statement:
Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) President Morton A. Klein released the following statement:
ZOA sends our heartfelt condolences to the families of the 84 innocent people, including 15 children, who were murdered in the truck attack in Nice, France yesterday by radical Islamist Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel. ZOA also sends our prayers for recovery to the 188 injured, including the 50 people whom French President Francois Hollande stated were in critical condition “between life and death.”
BBC reported that a witness who had time to see the terrorist’s face said that the terrorist-truck driver “appeared to be having fun” as he was mowing down people like bowling pins. The terrorist’s glee at leaving people dying in the streets of France exemplifies the evil cruelty, sadism and lack of humanity of radical Islamist murderers.
Just a little over two weeks ago, after the horrific massacre at the airport in Istanbul, ZOA wrote that the world must finally get serious about combating radical Islamist terrorism, listing some of what we need to finally do, and listing some of the thousands of terror attacks and casualties caused by radical Islamists in just the past year and a half. Since then, the death toll has continued to mount: 13-year-old American-Israeli Hallel-Yaffa Ariel stabbed to death by a Palestinian-Arab Islamist terrorist while she was sleeping in her bed in Kiryat Arba, Judea, Israel on June 30; Rabbi Michael “Miki” Mark shot to death while driving in his car by Palestinian-Arab Islamist terrorists on July 1; Rabbi Mark’s wife and two of their children were also wounded in the attack; 13 people murdered and at least 7 civilians wounded by Islamist car bombings in Benghazi, Libya on July 3 and July 7; 9 Christians hacked to death in villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – and numerous other attacks by radical Islamists around the world every single day.
The terrorist’s glee at leaving people dying in the streets of France exemplifies the evil cruelty, sadism and lack of humanity of radical Islamist murderers.
At the risk of repeating ourselves, we must act to stop the Islamist terrorist threat to our lives. We must stop allowing unvettable Syrian Muslim immigrants into our country. Our top U.S. security officials, including FBI’s Comey, Homeland Security House Chair Peter King, National Intelligence Director James Clapper admit that these immigrants cannot be properly vetted and are likely to be infiltrated by ISIS.
We must demand that Iran stop funding Islamic terrorists from the huge largess of $150 Billion the Iran Deal afforded them. We must stop US funding of the Palestinian Authority to the tune of $600 million/year. We must urge Muslim leaders to join Muslim Reformists such as Egyptian President Gen. Abdul Fateh al-Sisi in calling for and leading a “religious revolution” to stop radical Muslims throughout the world from killing and causing destruction. We must stop pretending that the problem is “Islamophobia” or gun control or limited to ISIS and al Qaeda alone – when the problem is far broader – the radical Islamist ideology that incites hatred and murder of fellow human beings.
The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations issued this statement:
Leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations expressed their condolences to the people and leaders of France following the horrific terror attack yesterday in Nice that killed over 80 people during Bastille Day celebrations.
In a statement released today, Conference of Presidents Chairman Stephen M. Greenberg, and Executive Vice Chairman/CEO Malcolm Hoenlein said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of France as we express our heartfelt condolences following the horrendous terror attack on innocent civilians in Nice yesterday. This latest devastating act of wanton terrorism highlights in the most painful terms the threats currently facing our world. The American Jewish community stands in solidarity with the people of France and reaffirms its commitment to forceful, determined efforts to confront the scourge of terrorism there and around the world.
Over 200 people have been killed in France by terrorist attacks over the last 18 months, mostly by Islamist terrorists. There have been 10 attacks since the outrage at the offices of the Charlie Hebdo weekly magazine and Hyper Cacher kosher supermarket. We must seek out those who aid, abet, and incite these actions as well as those who carry them out. Whether they spread their hateful, extremist ideology in the media, on the Internet, or in mosques or schools, they must be held to account. All those involved directly or indirectly, domestic or foreign, must be confronted by a united front. No excuses, no exceptions. There must be a policy of zero tolerance and total accountability for those engaging in such terrible acts.
Our sympathy goes to the families of the victims and our prayers for those injured.
The Anti-Defamation League issued this statement:
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed shock and outrage at a horrific terrorist attack in Nice, France, which targeted revelers at Bastille Day celebrations. The driver of the truck used in the attack was identified as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a 31-year-old French Tunisian. At least 84 people were killed when a truck was driven into a crowd of revelers.
“This attack was the ninth attack by terrorists since Charlie Hebdo. Their aim is to weaken France, and they have failed,” said Marvin D. Nathan, ADL National Chair, and Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “While there’s still much we don’t know about the attack, it is clear that once again France is in the crosshairs of terrorism. We extend our solidarity with the people of Nice, and to all of France.”
Run-over style attacks, like the one perpetrated yesterday in Nice, are often promoted by terrorist groups and their supporters and is a staple of their propaganda, from ISIS to Al Qaeda to Palestinian terrorists, according to ADL’s Center on Extremism, which monitors terrorist networks and propaganda. Terrorist incitement and online literature is focused on providing practical tips for would-be terrorists, encouraging networks of supporters to carry out actions with limited resources.
In a letter to President Francois Hollande, ADL expressed “sorrow and solidarity” with France, noting that France is on the front lines of the type of terror that has impacted every nation. “We have admired the responses by your government and the French people to the campaign of terror attacks,” Mr. Greenblatt wrote. “Those celebrating the founding values of the French Republic were targeted, as were those values themselves.”
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs issued the following statement:
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) condemns the horrific terrorist attack against innocent civilians in the French Riveria resort of Nice, last night. This is the third major strike in France in the past 18 months and one of a spate of attacks in the past several months. It is especially despicable that as France was celebrating its independence day and venerable democratic tradition, 84 people were murdered at last count by a terrorist bent on undermining such freedom. Our hearts go out to the families of those who have lost their loved ones.
“With an increase in terrorist attacks in France and around the world, we call on the international community to take decisive action against terrorists and increase the level of collaboration and vigilance of security forces in all countries vulnerable to such attacks,” stated Cheryl Fishbein, JCPA chair. “We cannot allow these bullies to take more innocent lives and instill fear in citizens around the world.”
French Ambassador to U.S. Gérard Araud tweeted: “France is attacked by islamist terrorism. France will face the threat. She will increase her military action against ISIL.”
“We stand with the people of France not just in mourning but in efforts to fight the terrorists,” said David Bernstein, JCPA’s President and CEO.
At a brief joint appearance in Moscow, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commented on terrorism in Syria and in Paris. Here is a transcript of their comments as provided by the U.S. State Department:
FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: (Via interpretation) Dear Secretary of State, dear colleagues, I’d like to welcome you (inaudible). We’ll continue the dialogue that was launched yesterday in the meeting with the president of the Russian Federation. I believe that it was fruitful. I believe that with regard to Syria and the region of the Middle East that dialogue contributed to prioritizing the need to step up our joint efforts in the settlement of the crisis of our fight against terrorism. And I believe that the dialogue is becoming even more urgent and relevant (inaudible) the barbaric and horrible terrorist attack that took place yesterday in Nice. If I might, I’d like to honor the memory of the victims (inaudible) take a moment of silence.
Anyway, we still need to get started. We’re going to discuss plans on Syria, Ukraine, on the settlement of the Middle East process conflict, and Nagorno-Karabakh, and (inaudible) trip to Israel (inaudible) focus on our (inaudible) issues that you raised yesterday.
Welcome.
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, Sergey, thank you very much. Thank you for a very productive session last night. I wish – I hope you will extend my appreciation to President Putin. We were there until 1 o’clock in the morning, and I know he had to get on an airplane and fly somewhere, so we’re appreciative. And the conversation last night was extremely frank and very serious – we’re very appreciative of that.
We certainly join with you in expressing our absolute abhorrence for the incredible carnage that took place in Nice yesterday. The problem is that you and I and other foreign ministers and leaders of countries are now doing this almost on a weekly basis. And nowhere is there a greater hotbed or incubator for these terrorists than in Syria. And I think people all over the world are looking to us and waiting for us to find a faster and more tangible way of them feeling that everything that is possible is being done to end this terrorist scourge and to unite the world in the most comprehensive efforts possible to fight back against their nihilistic and depraved approach to life and death.
And you and I and our teams are in the enviable position of actually being able to do something about it. So I look forward to building on the conversations that we had last night, on the conversations we’ve had in previous months. And as you said, I think it’s important for the world to trust, to know that we are not just talking about Syria; we are talking about other hot spots, ranging from the Middle East process outside Israel, to Libya, to Yemen, and Nagorno-Karabakh. And I think on each of these we’ve been able to lay down some good approaches and I hope we can build on those today also. …
The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism issued this statement:
In response to a deadly attack yesterday in Nice, France, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:
“We join with the French people and all those affected in mourning the horrific loss of at least 84 people at a Bastille Day celebration in Nice. Our hearts break as another tragedy strikes in France, this time amidst the French people’s national holiday. What should have been a day of celebration and joy has been marred by an act of inexplicable violence.
We stand united with the people of Nice as they begin the process of healing and recovery, and we pray for comfort for the family and friends of the victims and those injured in this attack. In these challenging times, we know that we cannot let fear divide us. Our shared goals of peace and prosperity for all God’s children must be our guide. In the face of violence and terror, we must choose the path of peace and understanding, even as we grieve. For, only when we choose light over darkness, love over hate, can we repair the brokenness in our world.”