PM on Boston blast: Israel stands with US

Peres and Netanyahu begin addresses to heads of foreign diplomatic missions in Israel by extending condolences to US.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF, GREER FAY CASHMAN
Peres, Netanyahu greet heads of foreign diplomatic missions (photo credit: Courtesy The President's Residence)
Peres, Netanyahu greet heads of foreign diplomatic missions
(photo credit: Courtesy The President's Residence)
Israel stands in solidarity with the United States and the city of Boston as it grapples with Monday’s terror attack on the Boston Marathon, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres said on Tuesday.
“On this day and on any day, Israel stands shoulder-to- shoulder with the American people,” Netanyahu said.
“We are partners in freedom and in seeking a better future for all humanity,” he continued.
“Yesterday, a day of enjoyment in Boston was turned into a day of terror. We send our condolences to President Obama, the American people and the bereaved families.”
“When it comes to events like this, all of us are one family. We feel a part of the people who paid such a high price. God bless them,” Peres said.
“Today the real problem is terror and terror is not an extension of policy, their policy is terror, their policy is to threaten. Terrorists divide people, they kill innocent people,” he stated.
“Especially on our Remembrance Day, it’s important we emphasize the values of freedom– and treat those who attack freedom as our common enemy,” Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor told The Jerusalem Post.
Malcolm Hoenlein, the president of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Organizations, told the Post that the bombing may have been the first successful attack in the United States since September 11, 2001, but that there have been many planned attacks that have failed, “and we should remember that.”
“You can’t jump to conclusions. It demeans the seriousness of the threat, among other things. But this is why the European Union needs to take a stand against organizations like Hezbollah– it’s a reminder that these organizations are still very active and very motivated,” Hoenlein said.
Michael Wilner contributed to this report.