JCPA statement on Itamar murders

From the Jewish Council For Public Affairs, online at jewishpublicaffairs.org
Heartbreaking Itamar Murders Shine Light on Incitement JCPA Mourns Tragic Deaths, Calls for PA Action and Calm From Israelis This weekend’s horrific murder of a sleeping family in the West Bank community of Itamar was a heartbreaking terrorist attack not only on Jewish Israelis, but on the peace process itself, said the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. “This vicious act was aimed at intimidating Israeli Jewish families and derailing the already fragile peace process,” said JCPA President Rabbi Steve Gutow. “My heart pours out for the Fogel family, their loved ones, and their community. All of us who remain committed to a vision of two states living in peace and security cannot help but feel an incredible sadness at this attack and the cold hearted machinations of the murderers and their supporters. We look to the Palestinian Authority to work closely with Israeli authorities to bring the killers to justice.” “We have joined with U.S. and Israeli officials in praising Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad for making progress toward preventing terrorism and instituting effective security arrangements in areas under PA control. This makes the terrorist attack in Itamar that much more shocking,” said JCPA Chair Dr. Conrad Giles. “The path to peace and reconciliation,” he continued, “requires serious effort from the PA in ending incitement, especially among school children, the most vulnerable to hateful propaganda and the most important to reach with positive lessons.” At the annual JCPA Plenum March 7th, 2011, the JCPA and its member agencies approved a resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process that called, in part, for the PA to promote security and denounce all acts of terrorism and violence. “We understand the strong passions aroused by this brutal murder, but revenge violence directed indiscriminately against Palestinians is unacceptable. We regret that some attacks reportedly have occurred,” Giles asserted. JCPA, the public affairs arm of the organized Jewish community, serves as the national coordinating and advisory body for the 14 national and 125 local agencies comprising the field of Jewish community relations.