US ambassador calls attack ‘pure evil’

Today’s terrorist attack in Har Nof in Jerusalem “represents a barbaric new low in the sad and outrageous history of such attacks,” the US ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, says. “Murdering worshippers at prayer in a synagogue is an act of pure, unadulterated evil.”

Writing on his Facebook profile, Shapiro condemns the attack “in the strongest possible terms” on behalf of the American government and people. “There is no possible justification for such an act of violence. Beyond the terrorists who were killed by police responding to the attack, any others involved must be held responsible and brought to justice.”

Without mentioning Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas by name, Shapiro writes that anyone “who places a claim to responsible leadership must clearly condemn this outrage and any acts of incitement that can inspire events like these.”

— Raphael Ahren