Embassy shows solidarity
Staff at the Australian Embassy in Tel Aviv headed by ambassador Dave Sharma have shown support following this week’s terror attack which killed claimed the lives of four Israelis at Sarona Market in Tel Aviv by visiting the market.
At Max Brenner in Sarona. Ambassador Sharma with folded arms. Photo: Facebook
On its Facebook page the embassy reports: “Last night’s terrorist attack at Sarona Market was felt deeply by the Australian Embassy. It’s a place we have all spent many happy hours with family and friends, so seeing the tragedy unfold last night was profoundly shocking.
We came here to have lunch today to show the people of Israel that we feel your pain, mourn your loss, and stand alongside you as you confront such terror.
Israelis are tough and resilient people, and we see this here at Sarona today. The mood is sad, but people are determined to continue living their lives and not giving in to terror. We in Australia applaud and admire this resolve. And we are showing our support for this spirit by coming here today.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has visited the scene of the terrorist attack in Tel Aviv.
He said: “Four innocent Israelis were murdered here yesterday. We mourn their deaths. I personally know what a great shock their families are going through. Our hearts are with them and we wish a recovery for the wounded.
This people is strong. They will not defeat us. I see that life is returning to normal around us and that it is good.
![Ambassador [white short] with members of the embassy staff](https://i0.wp.com/www.jwire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Sarona-4.jpg?resize=400%2C262)
Ambassador [white short] with members of the embassy staff
I heard and appreciate the sharp and unequivocal condemnations of this abhorrent murder from leading world capitals. I have not heard such a condemnation from the Palestinian Authority. But I did hear shouts of joy in Gaza and in other parts of the Palestinian society in Judea and Samaria. This merely reminds us who and what we are dealing with.
We will win.”
President Reuven Rivlin went to Ichilov Hospital to visit victims injured in the terror attack in the Sarona Market.
At the hospital
While visiting the intensive care unit of the neurosurgery department at the hospital, accompanied by hospital director Prof. Roni Gamzu, the President met Assaf Bar who had a gunshot wound to the head. The President embraced his family, and held Assaf’s hand. “I am pleased to be here with you, we were worried that your injury was even more serious still, but here you are talking with me, and it is wonderful,” said the President and added, “you will enjoy many more happy and good times, we cannot let them get the better of us. I am going now to where you were injured yesterday. We will continue with our lives.”
The President wished Assaf a speedy and full recovery and said, “Rest and be well. The pain is of course difficult now but I am sure you return to full health soon.” With great effort Assaf thanked the President and said he hoped they would meet on happier occasions.
The President went from there to visit other injured victims who were still sedated following surgeries. He spoke with their families, and listened as they spoke about their loved ones, and heard an update on their conditions. He told them, “We have wonderful doctors, doing wonderful work.”
The President went on to visit the Sarona Market in the heart of the city to express his support for the workers and businesses who had managed to return to normal routine as quickly and as best as possible.
President Rivlin visits Sarona
The President said, “This is another difficult day for the people and the State of Israel, and our hearts are with those who lost their loved ones in this attack. I visited the hospital this morning, and I pray for the injured who are recovering with the help of the hospital staff. We understand there is no Iron Dome to terror, especially when we are dealing with unorganized terror, but instead random acts of terror perpetrated by individuals or small groups, with terrible fundamentalist ideas.”
The President stressed, “There is no magic solution, we must fight terror. I want to thank the hospitals, and the security services who I have no doubt will find all the right paths to deal with all those connected to this terror attack. We must remember we are a strong people, who live with a clear understanding that we will overcome.”
The President added: “We put our safety in the hands of the Israeli security forces. The Palestinian leadership must understand that once you let people use terror – terror is terror is terror. Let the Palestinians understand – they cannot break us, anyone who lets terror to operate, will find at the end of the road the terror on his doorstep.”
I am so proud of our Embassy thanks Dave for your ongoing support
The world had no shame in 1938-39 when it handed Czechoslovakia to Germany on a golden platter.
Germany requited that gift by killing millions of “the world’s” people.
Israel is not and will not be Czechoslovakia, but its enemies on both “right” and “left” are reminiscent of the Germany of that era.
Kol Hakavod to our Australian Embassy staff.
Australia stands proud among a world composed of 51 cringing and cowardly nations who continue to abandon the principles their own countries agreed on when they unanimously voted in favour of creating the Mandate for Palestine in 1922.
Those 51 nations – and all nations created after 1922 – subsequently confirmed the provisions of the Mandate when signing the UN Charter as a condition of UN membership.
Until the UN members live up to their internationally agreed commitments the Jewish-Arab conflict will remain unresolved and the murderous attacks on innocent civilians such as took place in Sarona will unfortunately be repeated.
What can these nations do?
They should declare the PLO and Hamas as persona non grata until they acknowledge the binding legal validity of the Mandate for Palestine and article 80 of the UN Charter.
No one but no one should be able to declare these provisions null and void and expect to be greeted by honour guards and State visits or allowed to be admitted to UN agencies such as UNESCO.
The world has no shame – and is now also paying for it in spades.