(Communicated by the President's Spokesperson)

President Reuven Rivlin this evening made the following comment regarding the terrorist attack this evening, in which two young parents were murdered, and their young children were injured.

The President said:

"Tonight, bloodthirsty murderers claimed the lives of a mother and a father, leaving their young children orphaned. The heart breaks at the magnitude of such cruelty and hatred.

We will continue in our brave and unwavering fight against this cruel and heinous terrorism - of this our enemies can be sure. This is our duty, and the only way we can ensure the right of the orphans who lost their parents tonight, along with the right of all our children and grandchildren, to live with security and in peace, everywhere in the Land of Israel.

We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured children - our hearts and thoughts are with them."


In response to the terrorist attack in Samaria, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks:

"This is a difficult day for the State of Israel. We are witness to an especially heinous and shocking murder in which parents were murdered, leaving four young orphans. My heart is with the children, all of our hearts are with the children and the family. The killers knew that they were murdering a mother and father, the children were there. It has been proven again that the wild Palestinian incitement leads to acts of terrorism and murder such as we have seen this evening. I am about to speak with the Defense Minister, the IDF Chief-of-Staff and the Director of the ISA about the steps we will take not only to apprehend the murderers but also to increase security for all Israeli citizens."


The victims have been identified as Rabbi Eitam Henkin and Naama Henkin of Neria. Their four children, aged 4 months to 9 years, were in the car at the time of the attack and were treated for shock. A group affiliated with the Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.