AIJAC CONDEMNS HORRENDOUS ACT OF TERRORISM

From the Australia Israel and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), 1 JUly 2014, by Mark Leibler AC, National Chairman and  Dr Colin Rubenstein AM, Executive Director:

AIJAC mourns Israeli students Gil-ad Shaar, Naftali Frenkel and Eyal Yifrach and condemns, in the strongest terms, their cowardly, despicable murder. We call for the perpetrators and their facilitators to be swiftly brought to justice.

Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences go to the brave families of these precious teenagers as they confront this unspeakable tragedy. We stand united with the people of Israel, Jews around the world and freedom loving people everywhere in grieving with their families. May they be comforted among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Strong evidence suggests that the perpetrators of this terror attack were members of Hamas, acting on repeated encouragement from top Hamas leaders to kidnap Israelis. This attack, and the disturbing level of approval for it in Palestinian society, is a product of the culture of incitement and hatred that has been ingrained in the population through official Palestinian institutions. This must cease for there to be any chance of peace.

Yet again, this horrendous act of terrorism shows the true face of Hamas. We join in calls for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to immediately terminate the unity agreement that tacitly has enabled an unreconstructed Hamas to escalate its violent activities.