Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton both harshly condemned the recent bloody terror attack in Tel Aviv. Clinton stated in a statement, “I condemn the heinous terrorist attack in Tel Aviv today. I send my deepest condolences to the families of those killed and I will continue to pray for the wounded.”

“I stand in solidarity with the Israeli people in the face of these ongoing threats, and in unwavering support of the country’s right to defend itself,” she stated, adding, “Israel’s security must remain non-negotiable.”

Trump was a little more forceful in his statement, “I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the outrageous terrorist shootings that took the lives of at least four innocent civilians and wounded at least 20 others in Tel Aviv yesterday. The Israeli security forces’ investigation is ongoing, but some facts have already emerged—and they are grim.”

The Gaza-based Hamas celebration over the attacks and the terrorists themselves did not go unnoticed by Trump. “Just as fast as the condolences arrive from the civilized world is the praise arising out of the uncivilized one. Hamas praised the attack, calling the attackers ‘heroes.’ Reports out of Hebron indicate that residents of the terrorists’ hometown lit up the night sky with celebratory fireworks,” he stated, adding that it was “despicable” that one Palestinian “news organization” called the attacks a “Ramadan treat.”

Reporter Lea Speyer wrote in The Algemeiner, “Trump said the world understands ‘all too well the unspeakable horror that terrorism unleashes.’ To address terrorism—‘and address it we must!’—the real estate magnate called on the world to ‘recognize the parallel horror of the culture of religious hatred that permeates many Palestinian quarters. From schools that indoctrinate toddlers to grow up to kill Israelis to the daily menu of hate that spews forth from various news organizations, change is long overdue in the Palestinian territories.’”

Trump continued that he hopes to forge a “future where peace can take root and terror finds no refuge.”

“The American people stand strong with the people of Israel, who have suffered far too long from terrorism. Israel’s security is a matter of paramount importance to me and the American people,” Trump said. “I express my deepest condolences to the families of the four Israelis who were murdered, as well as my wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded.”

I am by no means a “hater,” but I know I’d want to stand on the side of someone who speaks forthright and calls it like it is, without compromise, than someone who speaks politically correct words.

Another voice spoke out strongly after the terrorist attack. Linda Dayan, an IDF soldier who was off duty at the time of the attack, was an eyewitness and one of the injured. The two terrorists were just on the other side of a glass window from her. After she heard how those terrorists were being hailed as heroes in their hometown, she wrote on her Facebook page:  

“I’m thinking about all the ‘devil’s advocates’ I’ve known, the ‘they have no other venues for protest’ camp, the ‘it’s justifiable in a conflict like this’ college students I shared desks with. Please consider, if you’ve read this far: if we hadn’t sat outside, if the shooters came into the restaurant, if one had turned slightly to the left and fired, I would be dead right now. I don’t care what ‘side’ you’re on. I don’t care about your politics...call out terror for what it is. Call men shooting at screaming civilians who are running for their lives terrorist. Tell the people you know that it’s never okay to target innocent men, women and children, even if you don’t like where they live. Stand up for the people...who will never come home again after tonight. Stand up for the workers, the parents, the grandparents, the friend, the off-duty soldier who laid there on the floor and breathed softly, praying the glass would hold. Stand up to anyone who says my life isn’t worth it. Because when they say it, I’ve learned, they mean it.”

This is not meant to be a political endorsement of anyone.