The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, strongly condemns the terror attacks in Israel Tuesday and Wednesday and mourns the death of the American student who was killed by a Palestinian on a stabbing spree in Jaffa Tuesday evening that left 10 others injured.
The victim, 29-year-old Taylor Force, was an MBA student at Tennessee’s Vanderbilt University. The Texas native was visiting Israel as part of a school program. A graduate of West Point Military Academy, Force had served in the U.S. army and done tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. His wife was severely injured in the assault as well.
The attack in Jaffa was the fourth that occurred around Israel Tuesday, injuring a total of 14 people. On Wednesday, two Palestinian terrorists firing from a vehicle at a light rail stop near Jerusalem’s Old City critically wounded an Israeli man. Two police officers killed the attackers. Another Israeli man was seriously injured during the crossfire.
Nathan Diament, executive director of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, issued the following statement:
“The Orthodox Union is terribly saddened by the death of Taylor Force and we send our deep condolences to his family. These terrorist attacks and the ongoing wave of violence are unacceptable and must be condemned by the international community.”
The attack Tuesday occurred during Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel and drew his strong censure during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Let me say in no uncertain terms: The United States of America condemns these acts and condemns the failure to condemn these acts,” Biden said. “They’re targeting innocent civilians, mothers, pregnant women, teenagers, grandfathers, American citizens. There can be no justification for this hateful violence and the United States stands firmly behind Israel when it defends itself as we are defending ourselves at this moment as well.”
Nathan Diament further stated:
“We appreciate Vice President Biden’s unequivocal condemnation of Palestinian terrorism and the failure of the Palestinian Authority and others to repudiate this terror campaign. It is reprehensible that the Palestinian Authority praised these attacks in their media outlets.”