J Street responds to violent attack on Tel Aviv LGBT center

August 3, 2009

J Street Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami issued the following statement in response to this weekend’s violent attack on a Tel Aviv center for gay and lesbian youth:

J Street shares the shock and pain of Israelis and friends of Israel around the world at the terrible news of the multiple shootings at the Gay and Lesbian Association support center in Tel Aviv this weekend. We hope for the quick recovery of all those wounded and that authorities will quickly apprehend the murderer. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. No one living in Israel or around the world should fear for indiscriminate acts of violence, no matter their race, religion, sexuality, or gender. We applaud the wide ranging condemnations of this heinous act of violence from all corners of the Israeli political map.  This kind of violence – apparently based on hate and prejudice – is unfortunately found all over the globe.  We applaud those in Israel and elsewhere who use this horrible moment as an opportunity to reflect on the need for tolerance and respect and the need to speak out against incitement of any kind, wherever and whenever it appears.