Israel reels from Jerusalem terror attack
World leaders react as funerals held for shooting victims.
Fourteen-year-old Asher Natan had left home to meet some friends after the Shabbat meal last Friday when he and six others were shot dead outside a synagogue in Jerusalem’s Neve Yaakov neighbourhood by a Palestinian terrorist.
According to police, the terrorist – a resident of East Jerusalem – arrived by car at 8.13pm at the building in northern Jerusalem and opened fire at people outside the synagogue and other passersby.
He fled by car toward the Palestinian neighbourhood of Beit Hanina, where he encountered officers called to the scene. Police said the terrorist was shot dead after he exited the car and opened fire on the officers while trying to escape on foot.
Also killed in the attack were couple Eli and Natali Mizrahi, 48 and 45, who had been married for just two years and had gone outside to try and help others who had been shot; Rafael Ben Eliyahu, 56, who was about to welcome another grandchild; 68-year-old Shaul Hai; 59-year-old Ukrainian citizen Irina Korolova; and 26-year-old Ilya Sosansky.
Celebrations were held in the Gaza Strip and in several Palestinian cities in the West Bank following the deadly attack.
Speaking at his funeral on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, the father of 14-year-old Natan said, “I always wanted so much for things to be good for you. Now you’re in a good place for eternity.”
Jerusalem mayor Moshe Lion said, “He was murdered with unimaginable cruelty by a terrorist who did not stop even when he saw a pure-eyed boy.”
Eli and Natali Mizrahi were buried at the Derech Hachaim cemetery near Beit Shemesh. Eli’s father Shimon told of how the pair had gone outside to try and help those who had been shot. “I cried out for them to not go down, but they didn’t respond. They heard gunfire and went out to help,” he said.
Ben Eliyahu’s son revealed his wife gave birth hours after his father was killed. “You were supposed to come to the bris, but ultimately you were not able to hold [your grandson],” Kobi Ben Eliyahu said during his funeral in Jerusalem. “Instead, I’m bringing you to the cemetery. You left a giant hole in our hearts.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “On behalf of all citizens of Israel, I would like to send condolences from the bottom of my heart to the families of those murdered in the heinous and terrible attack in our capital, Jerusalem.”
“The heart breaks,” said Opposition Leader Yair Lapid. “I send condolences and strength to the families.”
Condemnations and condolences poured in from world leaders.
“We share [Israel’s] pain … Among the victims is a [Ukrainian] woman,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Twitter. “Sincere condolences to the victims’ families. The crimes were cynically committed on the [International] Holocaust Remembrance Day.”
Condemning the shooting, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted that it “tragically occurred on International Holocaust Remembrance Day when the memory of those lost in the Holocaust is commemorated around the world”.
US ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides expressed shock and disgust at the “horrific act of violence”, as did the EU’s envoy to the Jewish State and the French embassy, among others.
A statement from a spokesperson for UN chief Antonio Guterres said the Secretary-General “strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack by a Palestinian perpetrator outside a synagogue in Jerusalem”, and “extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a prompt recovery to those injured”.
The UAE Foreign Ministry also condemned the “criminal” attack and expressed its rejection of all forms of violence.
At the time of going to press, Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas had yet to specifically condemn the attack.
Israeli Police said that 42 people had been arrested in connection with the attack, many relatives or acquaintances of the terrorist, Alqam Khayri, 21, a resident of East Jerusalem with no prior terror-related offences. Troops sealed Khayri’s home ahead of its demolition on Sunday.
Prior to the attack, on Thursday nine Palestinians were killed, including a civilian, during fierce clashes between Israeli troops and gunmen in the northern West Bank city of Jenin. The Israel Defence Forces said it entered the Jenin refugee camp to foil an imminent attack by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Times of Israel
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