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A ‘very dangerous moment’: Reaction pours in over Iran’s attack on Israel

U.S. allies and American Jews respond to a barrage of missiles targeting Israel

President Joe Biden meeting Saturday with his national security team.

President Joe Biden meeting Saturday with his national security team. Courtesy of The White House

Lauren Markoe

By Lauren Markoe April 13, 2024

Here is a sampling of responses to  Saturday’s attack, in which Iran targeted Israel with more than 300 missiles and drones. Some statements have been edited for length and clarity.

President Joe Biden

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, head of the Union for Reform Judaism

David Aaron Miller, senior fellow at the Carnegie Institute International Peace

“Gaza is now secondary, and the tragedy here is that any prospects for an Israeli hostages-for-prisoners deal, already very slim, is going to be be very, very difficult to put back on track,” he told CNN. “Hamas will wait to see how much regional chaos Iran can cause, which is precisely what they want right now.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

“I condemn in the strongest terms the Iranian regime’s reckless attack against Israel. Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own backyard. The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security, and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq. Alongside our allies we are working urgently to stabilize the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed.”

AEPi

Rob Derdiger, CEO of Alpha Epsilon Pi, the Jewish college fraternity, texted AEPi undergraduates: “It is rare that we write to all of you all at once and even more rare that we do so on Shabbat. As you are likely aware, Iran launched a drone attack on Israel today. We expect there to be additional escalation on campus by Hamas supporters. Please be vigilant about safety while also being aggressive defenders of the Jewish right to self-determination. This is the moment to stand up.”

J Street

Israeli American Council

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has launched a direct military attack against the State of Israel. This latest outrage follows years of deadly attacks against both Israel and U.S. military personnel that Iran has either commanded or funded through its proxies. The Israeli-American Council stands in strongest support of Israel’s right to use any and all means necessary to defend itself against Iran and its proxies. Israel’s right to eliminate the genocidal threats facing the Jewish people is inalienable.”

Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, chief rabbi of the United Kingdom

IfNotNow

“Two authoritarian governments are putting millions of people in harm’s way. Further escalation only serves these warmongering, corrupt politicians’ interests. We urge Israel, Iran, and all parties to de-escalate now before this escalates into a broader regional war.”

Jewish Federations of North America

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries

Gen. Daniel Hagari, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson

“We are ready for any threat that will come to Israel.”

Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations

“The attacks launched against Israel constitute a wanton act of aggression from the clerical regime in Tehran. We commend President Biden for his ironclad support for Israeli security. We also thank allies, including the United Kingdom and Jordan, for standing with Israel. The international community must come together to condemn Iran’s aggression against Israel in violation of the UN Charter.”

American Jewish Congress

“The Middle East’s only democracy is tonight under attack by a radical terrorist state. Iran’s assault on Israel must be a wake up call to all friends of freedom everywhere; the values we hold dear at home are at risk when attacked abroad. When our allies face an existential threat, our own security in a community of peaceful nations is shaken.”

Mort Klein, President of the Zionist Organization of America

“ZOA strongly supports Israel’s right and obligation to aggressively defend itself from the attack against it by the extremist, Jew-hating, America-hating Islamic Republic of Iran. ZOA urges every civilized nation on earth to condemn Iran and support Israel responding to the terrorist Islamic Republic of Iran in any way it deems necessary and appropriate.”

T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call For Human Rights

AIPAC

Democratic Majority for Israel

“We strongly condemn Iran for firing hundreds of weapons at civilian and religious targets in Israel. Iranian proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, have been attacking Israel continuously for six months. Long committed to destroying Israel, Iran is now making war directly against Israel. The Israel Defense Forces deserves tremendous praise for saving thousands of Jewish and Arab lives during this indiscriminate and unprecedented attack. We are deeply grateful to President Biden for his steadfast support of Israel, both militarily and politically, and thankful to other allies who joined in defending against Iran’s unwarranted aggression. We are hopeful that the Republican House will finally be able to join the Democratic Senate in passing much needed aid for Israel.”

Related

Lauren Markoe is news editor of the Forward. A Bronx native, she reported for The Patriot Ledger, several McClatchy newspapers in the South, and Religion News Service, where she was also managing editor. She also produced live radio shows at WAMU in Washington, D.C., where she lives.

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A ‘very dangerous moment’: Reaction pours in over Iran’s attack on Israel

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