S.F. Based Jewish Community Federation Condemns Terror Attack in Bulgaria
July 18, 2012 - At least seven Israeli tourists were killed Wednesday and about 30 injured in the explosion of a bus at the Burgas Airport in Bulgaria. The explosion occurred shortly after a chartered flight of Israelis landed from Tel Aviv. The 42 passengers, all from a single tour group, had just boarded their tour bus after arriving at the Sarafovo airport. Magen David Adom medical personnel and Israeli authorities are en route to Burgas.
A large number of outbound flights from Israel have been grounded and Israeli security forces claim there are a number of significant warnings about potential attacks on Israelis abroad. In Jerusalem, Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has opened its Emergency Situation Room to coordinate rescue and other efforts. Today marks the 18th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the AMIA Jewish Center in Buenos Aires by Iranian agents that left 85 people dead. Senior Israeli officials are already holding Iran and Hezbollah responsible for the attack.
"All the signs lead to Iran. Only in the past few months we have seen Iranian attempts to attack Israelis in Thailand, India, Georgia, Kenya, Cyprus and other places," Netanyahu said in a statement. "This is an Iranian terror campaign that is spreading throughout the world, Israel will react powerfully against Iranian terror."
Defense Minister Ehud Barak added "The defense establishment will work with all its might to find the perpetrators of this terrorist attack and those who sent them. . .We have a long struggle with [terrorists] that has many successes and many difficult days. Today is such a difficult day."
"We strongly condemn this unprovoked attack on innocent civilians in Bulgaria," said Jennifer Gorovitz, CEO of the San Francisco-based Jewish Community Federation. "On behalf of the more than 200,000 Jews in the Bay Area regions we serve and the entire Federation system, we stand in solidarity with the people of Israel and Jews everywhere. We offer our sincere condolences and most heartfelt prayers to the victims' families and all Israelis."
