Israeli Leaders Unite in Condemning Tel Aviv LGBT Shooting
Following a shooting that killed two people and injured 11 at a Tel Aviv gay youth club on Saturday, the Consulate General of Israel in New York issued this official statement:
“This atrocious crime is worthy of every condemnation. The attack on the LGBT activity center has hit one of Israel’s symbols of tolerance and pluralism. This is a crime not only against the gay community, but against the basic values of the Jewish-Israeli culture that sanctifies life and appalls acts such as this. The State of Israel will not tolerate an act of a single person who decides to tear fabric of its democracy, which we pride ourselves in. Israel as a whole, and Tel Aviv in particular, are an island of tolerance to the people of different religions, ethnicities and sexual preference. These values served Israel through the years and manifested into laws and regulations. The Israeli authorities will do everything necessary to capture the murderer and bring him to justice. In their tragic deaths, Liz Troubishi and Nir Katz will shine as a beacon for tolerance and pluralism.”
There was bi-partisan condemnation for this heinous crime among all political parties in Israel. Here you can read the different reactions from the top Israeli leaders:
“This heinous murder of youth and teenagers is an act that a civilized nation can not tolerate. Murder and hate are two of the most appalling crimes against society. I call the police to do its utmost to catch this vile murderer. I call all the citizens of Israel to denounce this crime.” – Shimon Peres, President
“I would like to strongly condemn the shocking murders that were perpetrated in Tel Aviv. I fully back the police in their search to find the murderer. We will bring him to justice and treat him with the utmost severity of the law. I would also like to send my condolences to the families of the victims and my wishes for a quick recovery to the injured. I would like to take this opportunity to remind all Israelis that ours is a democratic state. We are a nation of law. Ours is a country built on tolerance and we must respect all people as they are.” — Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister
“Even though not all the facts are known, it is obvious that the hatred needed to perform such a crime exists and must be eradicated. We must use this horrible crime as a catalyst to shake off bias and prejudice towards the gay community. This attack should serve as a wake up call for the Israeli society including our political establishment and educational system. Today we must all call for tolerance and act against hate and incitement. — Tzipi Livni, Head of Kadima party (opposition leader)
For more information regarding gay legislation in Israel, click here.
Photo by [niv] on Flickr used under Creative Commons License.
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