Expressions of Shock and Outrage Together With Determination Follow Arson Attack on Gush Etzion Synagogue

Gush Etzion (TPS) – Prominent residents and figures of Gush Etzion (the Etzion bloc of communities) in the Judean region have expressed shock and outrage as well as a demand for action in response to the arson attack on the Givat Sorek synagogue located next to the community of Carmei Tzur. The synagogue was named after the three Israeli teens—Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrah—who were abducted and murdered by Hamas terrorists in the summer of 2014.

“The difficult images sent chills all over my body,” reflected Gush Etzion Regional Council Chairman Davidi Perl. “I am sure that the Holocaust survivors who made it through Kristallnacht and founded Gush Etzion never dreamed of seeing holy books being burnt here in Israel under Israeli sovereignty.”

The Gush Etzion region was settled and developed by Zionist pioneers several times during the first half of the twentieth century. After Israel’s War of Independence, the region fell to Jordanian control until Israel regained control of it in 1967 after which it was once again settled and developed.

Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed at the cabinet meeting yesterday to take action in response to the arson attack. “We will do our utmost to find the arsonists and bring them to justice,” said Netanyahu at the meeting.

However, Carmei Tzur community spokesman Yehuda Vald claims that the government has yet to have made any sort of actual response.

“The government needs to coordinate a response and not just on Facebook,” Vald told Tazpit Press Service (TPS), referring to the Facebook posts commonly written by government ministers following an attack. “The ones who have the power to do something are only writing their responses on Facebook and are not doing anything.”

“If the terrorists would see consequences to their actions such as the creation of a new [Israeli] hilltop community, then they would think twice before acting,” Vald continued.

Vald also stressed that he knows that the soldiers just follow orders and that he is not placing any of the blame on them for failing to take sufficient measures to prevent such attacks.

“The community loves the soldiers and they are not the problem,” Vald claimed. “The government is the problem.”

Bat-Galim Shaar, the mother of the abducted and murdered teen Gilad Shaar, continues to have faith in the Israeli government and the security forces.

“The security forces are doing their job in the best way possible, and I’m sure the government also knows what needs to be done in order to restore security for the residents,” Shaar told TPS.

Shaar also stressed the absolute necessity in bringing justice to the perpetrators of the arson attack. “Those who teach hate and attack us, our spirits, and our Torah must be held accountable for their actions,” added Shaar.

Both Vald and Shaar expressed determination and strength to move forward and persevere. “Nothing is going to make us leave or scare us and we are going to continue fighting,” said Vald.

Shaar emphasized that the spirit of the people in Israel has not been shattered and will continue to be strong. “I think our people are strong,” Shaar claimed. “Even if some are trying to harm us, it will not break our spirit and we will not be deterred.”

Michael Bachner contributed to this article.