The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, strongly condemns the terror attacks in Israel Wednesday evening by two Palestinian men who opened fire in a popular dining and shopping area in Tel Aviv, killing four people and injuring several others. The Orthodox Union grieves for the victims and their families.
Following the attack, Palestinians in parts of the West Bank and some refugee camps celebrated with fireworks, singing and waving flags. The Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas praised the attack, calling it “the first prophecy of Ramadan.”
Just after the attack, the U.S. State Department, the European Union, the United Nations and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the killings, as did the presumptive presidential nominees, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
Orthodox Union Executive Director for Public Policy Nathan Diament called the attack a barbaric act and said that while he was heartened to see the swift condemnations, more must be done to prevent such killings and stamp out terrorism.
Said Diament: “We are horrified by this terrible atrocity, and more must be done by the world and world leaders to put an end to such barbarism and those who support it. The Orthodox Union stands in solidarity with Israel and grieves for the victims and their families.”