Jewish groups condemn deadly attack on mosque in Sinai

Leaders from prominent Jewish organizations stood in solidarity with the victims of Friday's terrora attack.

View of the Rawda mosque, roughly 40 kilometres west of the North Sinai capital of El-Arish, after a gun and bombing attack, on November 24, 2017. A bomb explosion ripped through the mosque before gunmen opened fire on the worshippers gathered for weekly Friday prayers, officials said. (photo credit: AFP PHOTO)
View of the Rawda mosque, roughly 40 kilometres west of the North Sinai capital of El-Arish, after a gun and bombing attack, on November 24, 2017. A bomb explosion ripped through the mosque before gunmen opened fire on the worshippers gathered for weekly Friday prayers, officials said.
(photo credit: AFP PHOTO)
Leading Jewish organizations publicly condemned Friday’s deadly terror attack on a mosque in North Sinai, in statements issued swiftly after news broke on the incident.
“The World Jewish Congress harshly and unequivocally condemns the horrifying and barbaric terrorist attack carried out against innocent civilians in Egypt this morning," said World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder. "World Jewry stands in solidarity with the victims of the attack, and all of the people of Egypt."
“This was a cowardly assault on humanity that must be dealt with in the harshest measures possible. The international community must stand united in its resolve to defeat this scourge of terrorism that is spreading unfettered throughout the world."
“Terrorism of this kind does not discriminate – we are all targets. Decent people of all religions, faiths, and nationalities in this world must defend each other and look after each other. We cannot let terror reign.”
ADL CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt said: "This newest attack on a Sufi mosque – already the deadliest attack in Egyptian history with more than 250 killed – is an attack on the respect of diverse communities, cultures, and religions. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the families affected.
"This heinous crime reminds all people around the world that terror and violence have no place in civilized society.  ADL stands in solidarity with the Egyptian nation and the Sufi Muslim community and against those who seek to promote division, hatred and terror. "
The Simon Wiesenthal Center too said it "joins with civilized people of all faiths" in denouncing the murderous attack.
“Once again, fundamental norms of civilization have been decimated by mass murderers who targeted fellow Muslims at prayer," charged Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean and Director of the center's Global Social Action Agenda.
“In recent years, Christians in Egypt have repeatedly been targeted in their churches and Jews have been attacked in their synagogues in Jerusalem, Europe, and beyond," he continued. “We can only prevail over Islamist terrorism, if religious leaders of all faiths, take the lead in openly and consistently denouncing mass murderers who invoke G-d’s name to justify their evil agenda."