STATEMENT FROM THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF RICHMOND (JCFR)  AND ITS JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE (JCRC) REGARDING THE TERROR ATTACK IN TEL AVIV AND THE STATEMENT BY THE VIRGINIA MUSLIM COALITION FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 10, 2016

Contact: Daniel Fogel, Director of Jewish Community Relations and Israel & Overseas Programing
Office: 804-545-8626, Cell: 860-997-7426
DFogel@JewishRichmond.org

The JCFR and its JCRC are horrified by and condemn in the strongest terms the brutal terrorist attack that took place Wednesday (6/8) in the Max Brenner restaurant in Tel Aviv’s popular Sarona Market. Attackers murdered four Israelis and left others severely wounded. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims as we pray for the wounded.

We condemn the unconscionable praise by Hamas, the Iran-backed terror organization, for this heinous shooting attack by two Palestinian gunmen. We are saddened celebrations broke out in the West Bank and Gaza in the aftermath of the deadly shooting. We unequivocally condemn this attack and support the right of Israelis to self-defense.

The ongoing wave of Palestinian terror against Israel is morally intolerable and unjustifiable. Since September 13, 2015, 28 Israelis and 2 Americans have been killed in terrorist attacks and over 400 people injured in more than 200 separate stabbing, car-ramming, bombing and shooting attacks.

Today, the JCFR received a statement from the Virginia Muslim Coalition for Public Affairs. It reads:

Greetings of peace
We are so sad to see innocent civilians being killed in Tel Aviv. Woe onto the terrorists, and condolences to the Families.
The month of Ramadan is supposed to be a month of patience, generosity and mercy, but these criminals had their hearts sealed with blind hatred!
While we support Palestinians in their right and struggle to have their own state, we are against attacking and murdering civilians regardless who they are and where they are.
May God bring peace to the region.
Shalom, Salam and Peace,
Imad Damaj
VA Muslim Coalition for Public Affairs

JCFR President Nannette Shor said, “We greatly appreciate and heartily accept the statement by the Virginia Muslim Coalition for Public Affairs. Such statements highlight fellowship among all decent humankind and we thank the Coalition for the statement and its sentiment. We join with them in prayers for peace in the region.”

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