Alongside Austrian counterpart, Lapid offers message of unity after Bnei Brak terror attack

In a joint statement with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid offers a message of unity in Hebrew.

“The goal of terrorism is not only to strike innocents, but to cause us to hate and be angry at one another,” he says. “To undermine, and to pull apart Israeli society from within.”

“The terrorists want to see violent riots on Israel’s streets,” Lapid continues in Hebrew.

Lapid stresses that expressions of hatred do not enhance security, but instead create fear and making the work of security forces more difficult.

“We won’t let the terrorists determine our policy, and we won’t let the terrorists tear us apart from within,” he says. “In the face of the difficult sights, we must unite and maintain self-control.”

Turning to Schallenberg in English, Lapid says events like the Negev Summit earlier this week are “the best response to terror.”

“Peace and friendship are the alternative to violence and chaos,” he continues. “We choose peace through strength.”

This was the ministers’ first meeting since January, when Lapid told the story of his grandfather’s death at a ceremony at the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria, and embraced Schallenberg after his address.

Schallenberg, speaking in English, starts by sending his condolences to the families of the victims of the “hideous attack.”

“I want you, and I want the people of Israel, to know that Austria stands side-by-side with you,” he says. “We are conducting this fight together.”