Only hours after four Israelis, including two teens, were murdered in a terror attack in Eli, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides issued an outrageous statement equating their deaths with those of heinous terrorists.
“Deeply concerned about the civilian deaths and injuries that have occurred in the West Bank these past 48 hours, including that of minors,” he wrote. “Praying for the families as they mourn the loss of loved ones, or tend to those injured.”
His statement was met with widespread outrage and condemnation. Israel’s Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog chastised Nides on Twitter, stating: “Today, yet another heinous Palestinian terror attack claimed the lives of 4 innocent Israeli civilians. There is no justification whatsoever for the targeting and killing of innocent civilians. It must be unequivocally condemned. Any attempt of a so-called ‘balanced’ condemnation is misguided and disrespectful to the memory of the victims.”
Deeply concerned about the civilian deaths and injuries that have occurred in the West Bank these past 48 hours, including that of minors. Praying for the families as they mourn the loss of loved ones, or tend to those injured.
— Ambassador Jack Lew (@USAmbIsrael) June 20, 2023
Religious Zionism MK Ohad Tal’s response, among countless others, was: “Mr. Ambassador, It seems that you are confused – there are no ‘civilian deaths’ here, there are despicable murderers on the one hand and people defending their lives on the other. As a senior diplomat, you should know how to differentiate between good and evil and between light and darkness.”
In contrast, in comparison, the UK’s Ambassador to Israel Neil Wigan wrote: “I am horrified by the attack today near Eli that killed four Israelis. Such terrorism has no justification. My deepest condolences to the families of those killed.”
German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert wrote: “I am appalled and sad to hear of the death of four Israelis in a terror attack near the settlement of Eli. My thoughts are with their families and with the injured who I hope will recover fully.”
Herzog also wrote: “In recent months, terror activities in the northern part of the West Bank have escalated as the Palestinian Authority has lost effective security control. Jenin, where the IDF recently operated, has become an Iranian terror stronghold, located just minutes away from Israeli population centers. Replete with hundreds of armed terrorists and laboratories working to produce lethal explosive devices and rockets, this “capital” of terror has become the main springboard of terror attacks against Israelis. Israel will do whatever it takes to protect Israeli citizens and stop this wave of terror.”
Nides later issued another tweet, stating: “I condemn in the strongest terms the senseless murder of four innocent Israelis today – my heart is with their grieving family members.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
What was wrong with the original statement? Did not seem to me that Nides was referencing the terrorists at all in that original statement.
Evil Nides wrote “His heart ❤️ is with the grieving families”
Last I checked the cold blooded liberal HAS NO HEART!
Nides should hear it loud and clear: The second tweet should have been a genuine apology for jumbling together the victims and the murderers.
Perhaps its just more prudent to just stop tweeting . Trying to compose too many sentiments in too few words is a literal minefield.
nasty, perhaps one can send this little man with a big mouth on a cruise missile….today, for the sake of Hashem and saving energy for the rescue of many souls I will let this one pass…..
There was nothing wrong with what the Ambassador wrote and it took him an amazingly short time to clarify it. Ambassador Nides has done an extremely good job keeping the State Department Arabists of our back. I wish Smotrich and Ben Gvir delivered as well as the Ambassador. Then we wouldn’t be looking over our shoulders all day where I live.