The president of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald S. Lauder, has strongly condemned a terrorist attack in downtown Tel Aviv on Wednesday. Twenty-one people were injured, one of them seriously, when a bomb exploded on a bus. Lauder declared: “Once again, terrorists have deliberately targeted innocent people in Israel. After firing thousands of rockets into southern Israel, they now seem to revert to the methods of the Palestinian Intifada, deliberately trying to murder innocent civilians. In this hour of danger, Jews around the world stand united with their brothers and sisters in Israel. The Jewish state has the right to defend itself against this existential threat.”
Israel Police confirmed that the explosion on Shaul Hamelech Street in downtown Tel Aviv, which occurred around noon on Wednesday, was a terrorist attack, although a spokesman said that it did not appear to be a suicide bombing and thus police were searching the area for additional explosive devises. The driver of the targeted bus, Nachum Hertzi, 53, told the 'Jerusalem Post' that he had not seen anyone suspicious on the bus.
A Hamas official said shortly after the bombing: "Hamas blesses the attack in Tel Aviv and sees it as a natural response to the Israeli massacres...in Gaza. Palestinian factions will resort to all means in order to protect our Palestinian civilians in the absence of a world effort to stop the Israeli aggression."
Ronald S. Lauder declared: "Extremist groups like Hamas who commit atrocities like this pose not only a threat to Israel’s existence, but to the entire region. Whoever is interested in peace should not regard these groups as potential partners for peace talks. As long as Hamas, Hezbollah and their Iranian backers are not contained, peace in the Middle East will remain an illusion. The number one priority of international diplomacy must now be to disarm these groups and to stop weapons being smuggled into Gaza or Lebanon. Otherwise, this crisis will repeat itself again and again. Calling for an immediate cease-fire is not good sufficient."
The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress also reacted with anger and indignation to the news of the terrorist attack in Tel Aviv. "This cynical attack on a bus, full of passengers, clearly demonstrates the lies and hypocrisy of the leaders of the Palestinian terrorists. Terror against civilians cannot be justified, whatever the organizers of terror may try to justify it," the organization, which is the regional affiliate of the WJC in eastern Europe and Asia, said in a statement. The EAJC expressed sympathy to the victims solidarity with the people and government of Israel.
