PM Netanyahu speaks with French President Hollande
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, last night (Friday, 9 January 2015), with French President Francois Hollande, who informed him that four hostages had been killed in the terrorist attack on a supermarket in Paris and that 15 hostages had been rescued.
Prime Minister Netanyahu began the conversation in French and told President Hollande, "The entire people of Israel are with you." He added, "Our hearts are with the families of the victims. Israel offers any assistance that France needs."
Prime Minister Netanyahu asked President Hollande to maintain heightened security at Jewish institutions even after the return to routine. The Prime Minister added that the international community must take united action against the terrorists from extremist Islam and against the terrorist infrastructures that support them, action that would strike at the sources of financing for terrorism and the network of incitement that encourages such acts.
Earlier, Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and offered the State of Israel’s assistance in any sphere that the French authorities might require.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also spoke with his French counterpart about security at Jewish institutions in France and noted that it was essential to strike at the sources of financing for extremist Islamic terrorist organizations and to take action against the incitement in Europe that encourages such actions.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also spoke with CRIF President Roger Cukierman and French National Assembly member Meyer Habib and asked them to convey to the French Jewish community that the Israeli people are with them in this difficult hour. The Prime Minister also asked them to adhere to security directives at Jewish institutions.
Shortly after being updated on the terrorist attack at the kosher market, Prime Minister Netanyahu held a conference call with Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, Foreign Ministry Director General Nissim Ben-Shetrit, Mossad Director Tamir Pardo and National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen. The Prime Minister instructed that all possible assistance be granted to the French authorities and that security directives be underscored at Israeli missions and Jewish institutions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Saturday evening, 10 January 2015), issued the following statement:
"On behalf of the citizens of Israel, I would like to send our condolences to the French Jewish community and the French people who have suffered a murderous terrorist assault in the last few days. These attacks in Paris are the continuation of extremist Islam’s war against our free civilization, in the West, in the entire modern world and also in the moderate Arab states and among entire publics in the Islamic world. This is a wave of terrorism that is spreading a global net of hatred, fanaticism and murder. After establishing its bases in the Middle East, terrorism is now sending its arms throughout the world. If the world does not take action quickly, we will find this terrorism gaining momentum and increasingly striking at other centers of the free world and in other places.
The terrorist organizations of extremist Islam have many and varied names - Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic State, Al Qaeda, Nusra, Islamic Jihad and Boko Haram. They are all motivated by the same bloody hatred and the same fanaticism that knows no borders.
They want to take humanity 1,000 years backward to a dark tyranny that we freed ourselves from after many generations. They simply want to take humanity backward.
Further proof that these organizations are branches of the same poisonous tree may be seen in the fact that one of Hamas’s official organs praised the reprehensible murderers in Paris. It must be understood that this is a war against us all.
I am convinced that if we are united this terrorism will be unable to defeat us. But if we ignore the true root of the problem, if we ignore the fact that extremist Islamic terrorism seeks to exterminate Western civilization as a whole, including the Jewish People, if we ignore this - what we are now seeing in Paris will be only the beginning. These are not frightening words or prophecies of rage, this is the simple reality and the time has come to recognize it.
Last night I spoke with French Prime minister Manuel Valls and with French President Francois Hollande. I commended the determination with which the French authorities eliminated the terrorists, these murderers, and I also commended the courage of the French security services. But this is not enough. In order to fight terrorism, it is essential to strike at its sources of financing and at the centers of incitement that encourage these murderous acts throughout Europe. It is also essential to take action against countries that give support, shelter and passage to terrorism.
The first law is that it is forbidden to give in to the fear that it seeks to instil in us. In order to fight terrorism it is simply necessary to fight it. We express our deepest sorrow over the French citizens who were murdered, the journalists, the police officers and the innocent citizens who were murdered simply because they were citizens of the free world. We express our deepest sorrow over our Jewish brothers who were murdered simply because they were Jews. Our brothers and sisters in the French Jewish community, we grieve with you over the terrible loss. I would like to send condolences to the families of Yoav Hattab, Philippe Barham, Johan Cohen and Francois-Michel Saada. We also send our best wishes for a quick recovery to all the wounded.
This evening, I spoke by telephone with Celine Shreki, who was a hostage in the kosher market in the heart of Paris; she is recovering. She told me about the terrorist’s inconceivable cruelty and of the heroism of the young Jewish man who attempted to seize his weapon and shoot him; he was shot by the terrorist and died about 45 minutes later.
To Celine and all French Jews, and to all European Jews, I would like to say: The State of Israel is not just the place to which you turn in prayer. The State of Israel is also your home. This week, a special team of ministers will convene to advance steps to increase immigration from France and other countries in Europe that are suffering from terrible anti-Semitism. All Jews who want to immigrate to Israel will be welcomed here warmly and with open arms. We will help you in your absorption here in our state that is also your state."
President Rivlin speaks with French Jewish community heads in emergency meeting following terror attacks
(Communicated by the President's Spokesperson)
President Reuven Rivlin (Saturday evening, 10 January 2015) spoke by telephone with the heads of CRIF, the French Jewish community organization, during their emergency meeting of over sixty community leaders, following the murderous attacks of the past week.
The President told them, "I speak to you tonight, not only as President of the State of Israel, but of the Jewish people as a whole."
He continued, “We are all, here in Israel, grieving and hurting with you, we share in the sorrow of the families, the Jewish community, and of the French people. We are one family and our pain is severe. In moments such as these, we are ever aware of the responsibility we have to one another, and the deep bond that connects us as one.
“These most recent events make plain that terrorism is terrorism. It does not distinguish between blood, and it threatens indiscriminately across the world. These attacks weigh heavily on the understanding of the extent of the spread of fundamentalism. Attacks on newspapers, just as attacks on supermarkets full of innocent civilians preparing for the Sabbath, are not events that humanity can tolerate. We must not give in to terrorism in any way, shape or form, and we will overcome this threat."
The President concluded, “Tonight, the State of Israel is by your side, just as you stand by us in difficult times. As one family, we feel pain together, as we well know - but moreover we know, that we rejoice together too - and together, tonight we will pray, for happier times, and for comfort.
The community leaders joined in the President's prayer, and thanked him for his warm words.
President Rivlin discusses attacks in France
(Communicated by the President's Spokesperson)
President Reuven Rivlin, this evening (Sunday 11 January 2015), addressed a Bible study session of the '929 Initiative', which promotes regular Torah study with a focus on social issues.
The President began his speech with reference to last week’s brutal attacks in France. He said, "First and foremost, I want to express my deep sorrow, and voice my support for the families who have lost their loved ones, and offer strength and encouragement to the Jewish community in France. In the last few years, we have witnessed the strengthening and tightening of the vital connection between the Jewish community of France, and the State of Israel, the citizens and people living in Zion.
"These mutual feelings have been reinforced by, among other things, the horrific attack on the Jewish school in Toulouse, and the French Jewish community's and French olim (immigrants) to Israel's, genuine solidarity with, and concern for the State of Israel. In these moments we feel most of all the togetherness, the central bond which binds us together as a people and as a community. We demand of all governments around the world, and the government of France in particular, to protect and safeguard the security and well-being of the Jewish community. There is an obligation to ensure Jews are able to live with dignity and pride, without being victims of attacks, threats and intimidation. The State of Israel will warmly and affectionately receive every Jewish man or woman, who wishes to immigrate to Israel, and play a part in building the nation and the state. However, it is important that this aliyah (immigration) to Israel will not be an aliyah of fear, but of choice, an aliyah born out of a positive Jewish identity, out of Zionism, and not because of anti-Semitism."
PM Netanyahu’s Statement Following the Rally in Paris
(Communicated by the Prime Minister’s Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this afternoon (Sunday, 11 January 2015), made the following remarks after the rally in Paris:
“I marched now in one row with world leaders in order to unite against terrorism. I told them that terrorism, any terrorism, must be fought to the end. I would like to thank our security people, and the French security services, for allowing us – despite not inconsiderable difficulties – to participate in this important rally and to represent the citizens of the State of Israel.”