U.S. Jewish Groups Call on Israel to Rein in Jewish Extremists
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Jewish groups in the United States called on Israel to more forcefully rein in its Jewish extremists.
The call came in messages condemning two attacks: the firebombing of a Palestinian home in the West Bank, which led to the death of a sleeping baby; and the stabbing of six people during the Jerusalem Gay Pride parade, which led to the death of a 16-year-old girl.
The attacks “must be met with determined action to prevent violence, apprehend perpetrators, and hold to account those who engage in incitement,” Stephen Greenberg, chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman and CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations said in a statement, which also “expressed their profound sorrow to the Dawabsha family on the death of their child, Ali Saad Dawabsha.”
“Terror – whatever the source – must be given no quarter,” AIPAC said in a statement which condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the family. “The deliberate and heinous targeting and murder of innocents cannot be tolerated.”
“Setting ablaze the home of an innocent Palestinian family, of any such family, is frightening in its pure evil,” American Jewish Committee Executive Director David Harris said in a statement. “Whoever carried out this appalling deed must be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and additional steps must be taken in an effort to prevent any future such attacks.”
The Anti-Defamation League condemned what it called the “shocking terror attack” in a statement.
“For seven years, extremists have perpetrated acts of violence and hate, targeting mosques, churches, and private property. Now these unacceptable acts of hatred and unbridled zealotry have resulted in the murder of an innocent child,” Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL national director, and Carole Nuriel, director of ADL’s Israel Office, said.
“Expressions of outrage are no longer enough. The perpetrators of these crimes need to face specific, enhanced consequences for these despicable acts of hate and terrorism. Community and religious leaders must make unquestionably clear that any act of hate and violence is unacceptable, un-Jewish, and that anyone involved in such incidents will be shunned by the community, let alone prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” they stressed.
“Such a heinous act offends all people of good will and violates basic Jewish values,” the Orthodox Union said in a statement. “We commend Prime Minister Netanyahu for his unequivocal repudiation of this act and his commitment to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
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