Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)

Last week, the world lost Taylor Force, a Vanderbilt graduate student in Israel on a mission to study global entrepreneurship along with 28 fellow students. He was fatally stabbed in a series terror attacks carried out by Palestinians that also injured a dozen Israeli civilians and police officers in Jaffa and Tel Aviv. Taylor was a U.S. Army veteran who had served two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was an Eagle Scout and hoped one day to help veterans like himself who were making the transition to civilian life. Our hearts go out to Taylor’s family and friends. May his memory be a blessing.

In the last 5 months, there have been 34 Israelis killed and 394 wounded in stabbings, shootings, and vehicular attacks. We remain hopeful that the incitement behind these attacks will end and that there will be calmer and more peaceful days ahead.

Vice President, Joe Biden, former Israeli President, Shimon Peres, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu all condemned the recent wave of attacks, and extended their condemnation to those who incite it by paying tribute to the terrorists. Our JCPA responded to the violence with this statement, and I wanted to share it with you.

Washington, D.C., Wednesday, March 9, 2016  – The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) condemns yesterday’s terror attacks in Israel. Three different attacks in the span of a few hours, including a grisly stabbing spree in Jaffa, left one dead and a dozen wounded. Our sympathies go out to all the victims, and we send our condolences to the family of the American victim, Taylor Force, who died as a result of his wounds.

We also thank Vice President Joe Biden, who was in Israel yesterday, for his support for the Jewish state as it has confronted the wave of terror attacks over the last six months. Noting that his family was dining in Jaffa as the attacks were carried out, he also stressed, “Let me say in no uncertain terms: The United States of America condemns these acts and condemns the failure to condemn these acts. This cannot become an accepted modus operandi.”

“We call upon Arab leaders to condemn these attacks in no uncertain terms,” said David Bernstein, President and CEO of the JCPA. “Such attacks not only hurt Israel and Israelis, they damage long-term prospects for peace and regional stability. They must stop.”