‘World must not be silent in face of abhorrent slaughter’
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder on Sunday condemned the deadly terrorist attacks carried out against two different Coptic churches in the Egyptian cities of Tanta and Alexandria, which killed at least 40 people gathered for Sunday services.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Ronald S. Lauder
“I condemn the heinous attacks on Coptic churches in Egypt today, which claimed the lives of so many people. People had come to church to pray and were murdered by callous fanatics.
“The Jewish world stands in solidarity with the people of Egypt, who have been suffering for years under the threat of terror, and particularly with the Christian community which has found itself targeted numerous times just because of their religion.
“These attacks are a threat not just against the Christians, but against all people in the world. They were attacks on freedom of religion. We must stand together against these threats and defeat all forms of radical and fanatic terrorism.
Lauder added: “I hope that this time the world won’t remain silent as they have in the past about Christians being killed in the Middle East. The Jewish people know what happens when the world is silent.”
Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin has sent a letter of condolence to President el-Sisi of Egypt following the terror attacks yesterday in Tanta and Alexandria saying “I was shocked to hear of the tragic bombing attacks on innocent Egyptians at places of worship in Tanta and Alexandria,” and added, “On behalf of my wife, Nechama, the people of Israel and myself, I send our sincere condolences to Your Excellency and to all the people of Egypt at this difficult time.”
The President stressed that, “I know that even such despicable acts of terrorism against minority groups that seek to divide will not diminish the strong spirit of the Egyptian nation or prevent unity and harmonious coexistence between the different religious and ethnic groups in your country.” He added, “The Egyptian nation knows how to withstand those enemies and to continue its firm stand against such vicious terrorism.”
He concluded by asking, “Please convey our sympathy to the bereaved families and our wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.”
