JERUSALEM/NEW YORK (EJP)—News that the three Israeli teenagers kidnapped by terrorists on 12 June 2014 from a hitchhiking point in Gush Etzion near the West Bank city of Hebron were murdered was met with shock and outrage by the leaders of the World Jewish Congress (WJC).
WJC President Ronald S. Lauder said the thoughts of the entire international Jewish community were with the families of Naphtali Fraenkel (16), Gilad Sha’ar (16) and Eyal Yifrach (19).
The bodies of the three were discovered on Monday near the site of their abduction.
Israeli authorities have evidence that the abduction was done by members of the Islamist Hamas movement, which runs the Gaza Strip and recently entered into agreement with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah group.
“We are beyond shocked, outraged and heartbroken by these despicable murders. Once again, Hamas has revealed its true colors: This group blatantly disregards human life, and it doesn’t even refrain from hijacking innocent teenagers. Those who committed this heinous crime must be hunted down and brought to justice.
“Clearly, Hamas is a terrorist organization, and it must be dismantled, and it is the responsibility of Mahmoud Abbas to remove all Hamas-linked officials from his government immediately and fight terrorism vigorously and urgently. Abu Mazen needs to show leadership now,” Lauder declared.
He also urged the international community, and in particular the United States and the European Union, to halt all financial support for the Palestinian Authority until Hamas is excluded from all government bodies.
“This murder must spur the world into action, and the fight against fanatic, extremist groups such as Hamas must be stepped up urgently,” said the WJC president.
ADL : ‘We reiterate our support for Israel’s right to self-defense’
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed deep sorrow over the news that the bodies of the three abducted Israeli teens have been found.
Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:
‘’We are hocked and deeply saddened to learn that our worst fears have been realized.
In the 18 days since these boys were abducted, Israel and its supporters around the world came together to pray for their safe return. Unfortunately, Eyal, Gilad and Naftali will not be returning home to their families or to their studies.
We extend our sincerest condolences to the Yifrach, Shaar and Fraenkel families.
We take this opportunity to affirm our solidarity with the State of Israel at this difficult time and to condemn all those who engage in and support terrorism. We reiterate our support for Israel’s right to self-defense.’’
ZOA : ‘Obama must cut ties and funding to Hamas and the PA’
The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) condemned the ‘’heinous crime committed by the Palestinian Arab terrorists’’ andsaid it is also ‘’deeply critical of the fact that President Barack Obama did not condemn the kidnapping of the youths at any time during the 18-day ordeal even though one of the youths, Naftali Frankel, was a dual American-Israeli citizen.’’
‘’The kidnappers have been identified by Israel as Marwan Kawasmeh and Amar Abu-Eisha, who belong to Hamas, which calls in its Charter for the worldwide murder of Jews and with which Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah/Palestinian Authority (PA) formed a new government last month,’’ ZOA said in a statement.
‘’The ZOA has called on President Barack Obama to terminate U.S. taxpayer-funded aid to the Hamas/Fatah unity regime.’’
The ZOA condemns this heinous crime committed by the Palestinian Arab terrorists and is also deeply critical of the fact that President Barack Obama did not condemn the kidnapping of the youths at any time during the 18-day ordeal, even though one of the youths, Naftali Frankel, was a dual American-Israeli citizen.
“We call upon Abbas to terminate his Fatah/PA unity regime with Hamas, especially in view of the PA’s statement earlier this month that it would do so if Hamas was involved in the kidnapping,’’ said ZOA National President Morton A. Klein.
He added : “We are also critical of President Obama throughout this crisis. In 18 days, he uttered no criticism or condemnation of the kidnapping of the three youths, one of whom is an American citizen; he merely expressed concern. Condemnation of this terrorist act came only from Secretary of State John Kerry — after several days had passed. We believe it is grossly inadequate for an American president to fail to condemn this kidnapping, involving an American citizen.’’