Joint Statement Condemning Palestinian Terror Attacks
San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco-based Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund unequivocally condemn the latest wave of terror violence that struck Israel yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families, both Israeli and American, and we stand with the people of Israel who continue to struggle against this every day. Both organizations have representatives participating in the Federation’s Irving Rabin Community Building Mission in Israel this week alongside leaders from 25 other San Francisco-based organizations. Everyone on the mission is safe.
Even after five months of near-daily Palestinian terror attacks, this wave is unusually shocking. First a stabbing in Petah Tikva, then two Israeli Border Police officers seriously injured in a drive-by shooting near Jerusalem, and finally, in the Jaffa section of Tel Aviv, yesterday’s bloodiest attack: A stabber injured more than 10 people and left a 29-year-old American tourist dead.
“I’m profoundly troubled and saddened by the ongoing violence targeting Israelis,” said Danny Grossman, CEO of the Federation. “Especially now, as our delegation meets with and observes the many Israelis – both Jews and Arabs – doing critical work to bring people together and strengthen the society, it is disturbing to see those who continue to resort to violence and terror. We condemn such hate and continue to call for peace.”
Attacks continued this morning with both a vehicle ramming and a second shooting in Jerusalem, and an attempted stabbing near Kalkilya.
“This continuous terrorism is both heartbreaking and senseless, undermining prospects for peace and the hope for two states for two peoples. Being here at any time is powerful; being here now provides an opportunity to share our deep sense of solidarity with Israelis. We spent the evening before in Jaffa, and while violence was being inflicted, we were just a few miles away engaged in community building with the other mission delegates as part of the Irving Rabin Mission,” said Hadara Stanton, JCRC President, who is participating in the mission with JCRC Associate Executive Director Abby Porth. “We look forward to bringing our experience back to the San Francisco Bay Area.”
