The Rabbinical Alliance of America — Igud HaRabbonim, representing over 950 American rabbis — condemns the recent missile attacks by terrorists in Gaza that were fired on Jerusalem during Jerusalem Reunification Day. The air raid sirens shocked celebrants of Israel’s 54th commemoration of the reunification of Jerusalem, a day of great religious significance to many Jews, who fled to safe rooms in the middle of their celebrations. The Israeli army says the barrage of attacks also included an anti-tank missile, causing an Israeli citizen to be “lightly injured” and transferred to a hospital for medical treatment. On live footage, viewers saw the moment that air raid sirens blared in Jerusalem and thousands of people, young and old, ran for shelter. Children and their mothers ran from Jerusalem playgrounds in fear of the attacks directed at civilians. Hamas claims responsibility for the attacks and some Palestinians in East Jerusalem can be seen cheering as rockets were fired.
Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, expressed the strongest condemnation “of this cowardly terrorist attack on Israel. It is disrespectful for the world to stand idle during these attacks on civilians as Israel celebrates the 54th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. Israel, America’s trusted ally in the volatile Middle East, should not face an unprovoked attack that places its citizenry in harm’s way without harsh consequences for the attacker. Israel takes every step to accommodate all religions and permits all peaceful worshippers the full opportunity to access their holy sites and pray in them freely. This freedom of religion is a rarity in the Middle East. However, when Israeli Jews celebrate their holidays and national days of celebration, they are attacked. Jews cannot and will not be second class citizens in the world, unable to practice their religion and celebrate their holidays. The path to peace in the Middle East will never lie in denying Jews their historical and religious rights.”
The Rabbinical Alliance of America calls upon all peace-loving people to condemn these cowardly attacks on Israeli civilians celebrating a religious holiday and to unite in the condemnation of terror. This is the only path to establish true peace and harmony in the Middle East.
We pray that He who makes peace in Heavens make peace on this earth and that bloodshed and terror be no more.