Dire Warnings and Calls for U.S. to Cut Funding to Terrorists as Israeli Police Officer Who Responded to Synagogue Terror Attack Dies

Michael Ireland : Nov 20, 2014
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The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem called upon the U.S. Congress to cut all funding to entities that condone these killings or honor those who carry them out, saying: "American taxpayer money should not be used to prop up regimes and organizations which in any way support the cold-blooded murder of Jews." This, as the Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Ron Proser, warns, "I have to tell the American people, and everyone else, Israel is on the front line in countering terrorism. If you're not with us today, you'll find terrorism on your doorstep tomorrow."

(Jerusalem, Israel)—Zidan Saif, a 30-year-old police officer from the Druze village of Kfar Yanouch in the Galilee, died Tuesday evening, succumbing to wounds he suffered when responding to the terrorist attack at the Kehilat Bnei Torah Synagogue in Jerusalem's Har Nof neighborhood earlier in the day. (Photo: Israeli police officer Zidan Saif/courtesy ICEJ)

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) says his death brings the death toll from the attack to five. Additionally, Yanouch's wife and four month old daughter join the wives and 24 children of the four rabbis who were slain in the attack to the list of surviving family members.

ICEJ says Rabbi Aryeh Kopinsky, 43, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Goldberg, 68, and Rabbi Calman Levine, 55, all from Har Nof, and Rabbi Moshe Twersky, 59, were identified as among those murdered in the attack. Seven other men were wounded in the attack, including four who were still fighting for their lives in area hospitals on Wednesday.

The killers, identified as Abed Abu Jamal, 22, and Ghassan Muhammad Abu Jamal, 32, were killed in a shootout with police at the synagogue's entrance.

"If you look at today, basically, ordinary Israelis cannot find a sanctuary in a synagogue," Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor told CNN. "I have to tell the American people, and everyone else, Israel is on the front line in countering terrorism. If you're not with us today, you'll find terrorism on your doorstep tomorrow."

"Jerusalem bows its head in pain and sorrow on this difficult morning," Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said. "Jerusalem residents peacefully praying in a synagogue in the heart of Jerusalem were cruelly slaughtered in cold blood while wearing their prayer shawls. I promise Jerusalem residents that we will continue to fight terror with full force and we will do everything in our power to restore peace and security to Jerusalem."

The mayor continued: "I call on Israel's national government and security forces to provide Jerusalem with all of the support necessary to fight terror. I call on the international community to strongly condemn this horrific act. We will not surrender to terror. We will stand strong and defend our city from those who try to disturb the peace of our capital." (Photo via Breaking Israel News)

The US Branch of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) condemned in strongest terms the barbaric slaughter of innocent Jewish worshippers Tuesday in a Jerusalem synagogue. Wielding guns and meat cleavers, two Israeli Arab citizens murdered four rabbis and injured thirteen others who were peacefully engaged in their morning prayers.

In a statement, ICEJ said: "Sadly, there have been numerous attacks of this nature recently, some using vehicles, in which Arabs have intentionally targeted innocent Israeli civilians, in one case even killing a three-month-old baby. Since October 23rd, 2014, eight Israelis have been murdered and another thirty-six injured in the ongoing attacks.

"The Palestinian Arab leadership should be held responsible for their incitement of such violence through their calls for 'days of rage' against Israelis, their glorification of murderers as heroic martyrs and their fabricated accusations of Jewish desecration of the Temple Mount. It's time the world stops turning a blind eye to this alarming trend and its dangerous consequences."

"Our hearts go out to the victims' families and we pray they will know the comfort of the Almighty during this difficult time," said Susan Michael, US Director of ICEJ. "Our sincere condolences for their losses hardly seem sufficient, yet we are compelled to let them know how much we care for them and that we stand with them in full solidarity at this time."

The ICEJ also called upon the U.S. Congress to cut all funding to entities that condone these killings or honor those who carry them out. "American taxpayer money should not be used to prop up regimes and organizations which in any way support the cold-blooded murder of Jews," ICEJ stated.

"We pray for the peace of Jerusalem and call upon all American Christians to join us in not only beseeching Heaven for intervention but to stand up for Israel now more than ever in her hour of distress."

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a harsh response. He ordered the homes of the attackers to be destroyed and called for the people of Israel to stand together in the face of a "wave of terror..."

The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, said it had carried out the attack.

In the Gaza Strip, some people distributed sweets to celebrate. Hamas, which controls Gaza, and another militant group, Islamic Jihad, praised the attack.