Netanyahu sends condolences
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sent condolences to the family of 3-month-old Chaya Zissel Braun murdered in a terrorist attack in Jerusalem and met the policeman who killed the perpetrator.
Chaya Zissel Braun
At Israel’s police headquarters in Jerusalem, Netanyahu was briefed on the incident and on the disturbances that have occurred in Jerusalem in recent months. He directed that sovereignty be asserted in all parts of the city via the stationing of additional forces throughout the city.
Prime Minister Netanyahu met with the Jerusalem District police officer who shot the terrorist and said : “On behalf of the entire nation, I send condolences to the family of this pure baby and my wishes for a quick and full recovery to those who were wounded.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu added: “United Jerusalem was – and will remain – Israel’s eternal capital. All attempts to attack its residents will be met with a very sharp reaction; we will restore quiet and security to Jerusalem. To this end I have directed that reinforcements be brought in, including additional Border Police units, which are moving in today, as well as with lookouts, intelligence and enforcement measures. These, along with other steps that I will not detail here, can and will restore quiet to the capital. I rely on the people sitting here. We will support the Israel Police and give it whatever reinforcements and capabilities it needs to carry out this mission. We have proven that with determination and patience we can achieve these goals in all parts of the State of Israel. Not only is Jerusalem under terrorist attack but other capitals and cities around the world are as well. But the attacks in Jerusalem are supported by Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen, who both extols the murderers and embraces the organization that the terrorists belong to, Hamas. And against these actions by the Palestinian Authority Chairman, we find international weakness; they are not prepared to utter so much as a word of criticism against him. We have no such weakness. We will insist on our rights and on our obligation to defend our capital. We will do strongly – and we will win.”
Talking about the attack itself, the Prime Minister said: “This is how Abu Mazen’s partners in government act, the same Abu Mazen who – only a few days ago – incited toward a terrorist attack in Jerusalem.”
Israel’s presiden Reuven Rivlin added: “The atrocious murder of an innocent baby girl, a victim of indiscriminate terrorism, should disgust all those who have a heart.
The increasing incitement on the Arab streets and the streets of Jerusalem, which unfortunately receives the backing of leaders in the Arab world, has the ability to destroy the delicate balance of life in Jerusalem, and carry us all into a maelstrom of destruction and pain.
As a sovereign people in our own country, and capital city, it is the security forces alone, who have the responsibility to act, decisively and unashamedly, in the face of these brutal terrorist operations.
At such difficult times, our hearts are with the bereaved family and we pray for a quick and complete recovery of the wounded.”
In what Israel terms a “run-over” terrorist attack, a Palestinian deliberately rammed his car into a crowd of Israelis near a light-rail train station in Jerusalem on Wednesday evening.
Then baby girl flew at least ten meters from her stroller after being struck by the car. Critically injured in the attack, she died of her head wounds an hour later in the nearby Mount Scopus Hadassah Hospital.
Eight others were wounded, including two who are in critical condition and the baby’s father. The victims had just disembarked from a light-rail train at the station near the Ammunition Hill memorial and were on the pavement when hit.
The attacker, identified as Abdel Rahman Al-Shaludi, a Palestinian resident of the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, who had served a prison sentence for Hamas terrorist activities, was shot by police as he fled the scene and died in hospital.
A Hamas spokesman reportedly openly welcomed news of the terror attack in Jerusalem by one of its terrorists: “This is a natural response to the crimes of the occupation and invasion of our land by the Jews, particularly on the Al-Aqsa Mosque,” Hamas spokesman Hossam Badran stated on official Hamas television. Hamas television has also confirmed the identity of the terrorist.
Numerous terrorist attacks using private cars and other vehicles have been carried out in Jerusalem in the past. The last attack occurred in August when a Palestinian used a digger to overturn a bus, killing a father of five and injuring five others.
In addition, the light-rail has come under frequent attack from Molotov cocktails and rocks in the eastern neighborhoods of Jerusalem in recent months, damaging up to 40% of the trains.
I like Israel’s President Rivlin message better (my translation):
The horrible murder of a little baby, who fell victim to murderous indiscriminate terror is bound to shock anyone with a human heart. The increasing incitement on the Arab street and around Jerusalem, which is unfortunately backed by the leadership in the Arab world, can wreak havoc on the delicate fabric of life in Jerusalem, and drag us all into a maelstrom of destruction and pain.
As befitting a sovereign people in its own country and in its own capital, it is the security forces and them alone, who have the full responsibility to act decisively and without cowardice in face of the perpetrators of brutal terrorist attack. In these trying times, our hearts are with the bereaved family and we pray for a quick and complete recovery of the wounded.
Hebrew original from his Facebook page:
הרצח הנורא של תינוקת רכה, שנפלה קורבן לטרור רצחני וחסר הבחנה, מחריד כל מי שלב אדם בו. ההסתה הגוברת והולכת ברחוב הערבי וברחבי ירושלים, הזוכה לדאבוננו לגיבוי מצד ההנהגה בעולם הערבי, יכולה להמיט אסון על מרקם החיים העדין בירושלים, ולסחוף את כולנו אל מערבולת של חורבן וכאב.
כעם ריבוני בארצו ובבירתו, על כוחות הביטחון ורק עליהם, מוטלת מלוא האחריות לפעול בנחישות וללא מורך לב נוכח מבצעי טרור אכזרי זה. בעת הקשה הזאת, ליבנו עם המשפחה האבלה, ונתפלל להחלמה מהירה ושלמה של הפצועים.