Leaders deplore Bnai Brak attack

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The Zionist Federation of Australia deplores the recent terrorist attacks, in which 11 people have been murdered.

There have been five attacks over the past week, including one on Tuesday night in Bnai Brak in which five people were killed.

ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said, “My heart goes out to the families of these latest victims, and to all of Israel. We stand with you, in mourning, in frustration, in anger, in resoluteness.”

Mr Leibler continued, “We don’t yet know if these attacks are coordinated. But what we do know is that decades of Palestinian incitement against Jews and Israel sows the seeds of this violence. We know that decades of monetary rewards, societal rewards and promised rewards in the afterlife fertilise the hatred. And we know the rejectionist attitude of the Palestinian leadership complements and nourishes it. This cocktail of hatred makes peace all but impossible and makes terrorism all but inevitable. It needs to stop, for the sake of both Palestinians and Israelis and their shared future.”

The co-CEO of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry Peter Wertheim said: “Our hearts go out to the victims of the terror attacks in Be’er Sheva, Hadera and Bnei Brak, their loved ones, and to the whole of Israel.

This week’s summit meeting in Israel included the foreign ministers of four Arab countries which now have close ties with the Jewish State, and once again demonstrated the utter failure of the Palestinian strategy to stigmatise and isolate Israel.  The terror attacks are an expression of the impotence of the Israel-haters to implement this strategy. They are reduced to lashing out indiscriminately at innocent people.

While Palestinians hand out sweets in Gaza to celebrate the murder of Jews, Israel continues to go from strength to strength.

The New Zealand Jewish Council stated: “We are deeply distressed by the attack overnight in Israel in which five people have been murdered by a Palestinian with terrorist affiliations. In the last week, 11 Israelis have been murdered in three separate attacks, the previous two being ISIS-inspired.

The murder of anyone going about their lawful lives should transcend politics and unite all people of conscience in condemnation and concern, wherever it occurs and whoever the victims and perpetrators are.

As our survey released today shows, antisemitism is on the rise in Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as around the world. It is both a legal right and a moral imperative that the Jewish people are able to live safely in their historic homeland and seek refuge from the antisemitism that has stalked us for millennia.

Liberal MP for Wentworth Dave Sharma told J-Wire: “I condemn unreservedly recent terrorist attacks in Israel which have claimed innocent lives in Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak and Hadera.

I am appalled by these attacks, which are morally repugnant and opposed to peace. There can be no justification for them.

My thoughts are with the bereaved family and friends.”

The Australian Jewish Association president Dr David Adler commented: “We condemn this horrific pre-Ramadan murder spree in Israel. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.

The blood of the innocents is on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas who for many years has financially rewarded terrorism. Not a single cent more of Western money should go to the PA until it stops inciting violence and ends its ‘pay for slay’ program and ‘martyrs fund’.

The silence from the usual anti-Israel hate mob is deafening. Where are the Greens, Amnesty International, Ben and Jerrys?”

Reacting to the terrorist killing spree in Bnei Brak, World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder said: “The images and videos of the act of terror carried out by a gunman in Bnei Brak this evening are absolutely horrifying. Fueled by hate, the perpetrator methodically murdered five Israelis in cold blood.

Once again, Israelis have been murdered by a Jihadist terrorist, with the Bnei Brak slayings following on the heels of the killings of four Israelis in Beersheba last week and of two border police officers in Hadera on Sunday.

This latest string of attacks, targeting civilians, is proof that we cannot afford to drop our guard. No one should have to walk down the street, ride their bike, or drive their car knowing that the next moment might be their last.

While Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has condemned these latest acts of murder, Hamas has predictably praised them, demonstrating once again that the ultimate goal of these Iran-backed extremists is the destruction of Israel.

I call on the international community, including those intent on attacking Israel at every opportunity, to condemn these and all acts of violence which underscore Israel’s need to protect and defend itself and its citizens.”

Dr. Colin Rubenstein, executive director, AIJAC told J-Wire: “Israel is no stranger to murderous terrorism, but the attacks of the past week in Beersheva, Hadera and Bnai Brak have nonethless been both shocking and horrifying. There appears to be good reason to fear that the bloody rejectionism of Israel’s basic right to exist which has led to so much bloodshed for so long is about to lead to another extended round of violence and mayhem targeting innocent civilians. AIJAC offers our condolences to the families of the victims. We wish a speedy recovery to the wounded and our thoughts and prayers are with all the people of Israel at this testing time.”