Israel extends condolences to the people of America
Israeli officials expressed solidarity with the families of the dead and wounded in Sunday night’s shooting attack in Las Vegas.
“On this awful day, the people in Israel stand shoulder to shoulder with the American people,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday. “Our hearts are with the families of the victims and we wish full recovery to the injured. We grieve with you.”
President Reuven Rivlin echoed the prime minister’s sentiment in a letter addressed to US President Donald Trump, writing that “the people of Israel join me in sending our deepest sympathy to you, to the participants in the festival, the people of Las Vegas and to all the people of the United States following this shocking attack which took the lives of so many innocent people and injured so very many more.”
“We stand with you as you mourn
the terrible loss of life and injury following this senseless attack on people who had merely gathered together to listen to music,” the president added, noting that the mass shooting targeted a lively outdoor country music festival.
In the letter, Rivlin also told Trump that the people of Israel wished to “convey our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and send our best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery to the many injured.”
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely also expressed her shock at the horrific attack.
“Israel is horrified by the mass murder that took place in Las Vegas,” she said. “I hope that the connection with the Israelis in Las Vegas who went missing will be renewed quickly.”
Israel’s consul-general in Los Angeles, Sam Grundwerg, confirmed to the The Jerusalem Post that there were eight Israelis who did not contact their families in the wake of the carnage, but also said there were no reports of any Israelis harmed or directly affected by the shooting.
The consulate, which is in charge of the entire southwestern United States, including Las Vegas, sent a search team overnight in an attempt to locate them.
“There are eight Israelis we are still waiting to contact; that does not necessarily mean that they are in danger or there is concern about them, but we are working in every way to reach them in the hope that we will be able to confirm soon that they are safe,” Grundwerg said.
Asked whether there were special instructions for the Israeli officials or the Jewish community in the US, Grundwerg said that “although the motive of the shooter is not yet clear, because this does not appear to be aimed at Jewish or Israeli targets, there is no reason for special instructions. At the moment, all our efforts are aimed [at contacting] the Israelis in Las Vegas.”
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein took to social media to express his sympathy with the American people, tweeting to his American counterpart, the speaker of the House of Representatives: “Dear Paul Ryan. Deepest condolences on the Las Vegas tragedy. We stand with you and the American people at this difficult hour.”
Edelstein said earlier in the day that he wished to “send his sincerest condolences to all the citizens of the United States following the horrifying carnage that happened... in Las Vegas.”
Education and Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett penned a tweet of consolation, expressing that “the hearts of all Israelis are with the American people on this day of profound tragedy. We pray for the wounded. God bless you.”
Zionist Union MK Tzipi Livni, a former foreign minister, also tweeted her support for the American nation.
“Horrific massacre in Las Vegas. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the families of the victims,” she wrote.
Zionist Union MK Nachman Shai, who serves as the Knesset’s deputy speaker and chairs the parliament’s lobby for US-Israel relations, joined the expressions of sympathy
“I would like to express my condolences to the American people for the awful carnage that took place .... There is no limit to human evil. Our world is flooded with violence and conquers again and again new plots of land and takes down innocent and helpless people,” he said.
Shai added that he felt “profound understanding and belonging to the tragedy that plagued the American people” and sent his condolences to “the US president, to the entire American leadership and to every American out there. I believe in the triumph of good over evil and in the triumph of good over hatred and hope that this terror will be uprooted.”
The Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality building wore the red, blue and white colors of the American flag Monday evening, lighting up in a moving gesture of support for Israel’s ally.
The Jewish Federations of North America issued a statement encouraging anyone and everyone to donate blood for the hundreds of wounded. The attack, the group said, was just the latest instance “of senseless violence that terrorizes innocent people everywhere.”
“We send our sympathies to the families and friends of those murdered – may their memories be a blessing – and our prayers for a speedy recovery to those injured,” the umbrella organization said.
The Anti-Defamation League offered a more political statement amid a rolling debate over gun control in America.
“One thing is clear,” said the organization’s head, Jonathan Greenblatt. “The threat of mass violence against innocent civilians in America has not abated.”
Greenblatt said the ADL would be investigating the shooter’s background for ties to extremist groups.
Chabad Rabbi Mendy Harlig, who also serves as a chaplain on the Los Vegas Metro Police force, told the Post that he was trying to support the police officers affected by the incident.
“We’re trying to give comfort to our personnel and their families,” Harlig said. “We have a few Jewish members in the family of the Las Vegas police department. In addition we are working with the Israeli Consulate to determine whether there are Israeli victims.”
Chabad operates a Jewish center in Las Vegas, serving the local Jewish community as well as many Jewish tourists and business people visiting the city.