J Street is saddened and appalled by today’s awful bus stabbings in Tel Aviv and wishes all of those injured a full and speedy recovery. 

We also condemn the statement by senior Hamas official Izzat Al-Risheq, who called the attack “a natural response to the occupation,” and praised the lone perpetrator for targeting “Zionists in a heroic and daring commando operation.”

The response by Prime Minister Netanyahu, who accused President Abbas of creating the atmosphere that led to the attack, is simplistic and lamentable. Blaming a Palestinian leader–who has promised nonviolence and stuck to that pledge–for this horrible act does not help calm the situation.