J Street statement on Bat Ayin terrorist attack

April 2, 2009

J Street’s Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami issued the following statement following reports of a terrorist attack in the Israeli settlement of Bat Ayin:

J Street strongly condemns today’s brutal terrorist attack that left a 13-year-old dead and another 7-year-old child seriously wounded in the Israeli settlement of Bat Ayin. Thankfully, a resident acted quickly to disarm the attacker. While the hunt for the attacker is still underway, we are confident that the Israeli police and the Israeli Defense Forces will find him and bring him to justice. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. No one should ever have to endure the loss of a child. Our most fervent hope is that leaders in the region and internationally will help us move beyond the use of violence and terror as a tool for achieving political objectives so that one day soon Israeli and Palestinian children can live side-by-side in real peace and security.