J Street is outraged by the horrific murder today of a thirteen year-old Israeli girl while she slept in her bed in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, committed by a Palestinian man from a nearby village. We mourn for the victim, Hallel Yaffe Ariel, and our hearts go out to all of her loved ones, who are now struggling to cope with an unspeakable tragedy. We also hope for the speedy recovery of the security guard who was wounded in his efforts to save the girl and repel the attacker.
There can be no justification for vicious acts of terror against innocent civilians. It should be absolutely clear that violence against innocents does nothing but spread more grief, fear and despair.