Earlier today, two Muslim terrorists associated with the Hamas-affiliated Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine entered a west Jerusalem synagogue and, with a pistol, knives and axes, went on a rampage, indiscriminately shooting and stabbing Jews in the midst of their morning prayers and killing four innocent people. Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley President Mark H. Scoblionko and Executive Director Mark L. Goldstein today issued the following statement:

“The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley sends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of those murdered in the terror attack that took place earlier today at a west Jerusalem synagogue. We pray for the recovery of those wounded in the attack.
 
Four rabbis, including Rabbi Moshe Twersky, grandson of renowned Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, a dominant American Jewish leader for over 50 years, were senselessly murdered in today's attack.

The recent wave of Palestinian terror attacks in Israel is outrageous and completely unacceptable, but today's attack on innocent people praying in a synagogue is incomprehensible. We pray that the authorities will do everything they can to put an end to the incitement and will find a solution to curb escalating tension in Jerusalem and the rest of the country.
 
We thank President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro for their swift and strong condemnation of the attack. The support of the U.S. Administration in these harsh times serves as a reminder of the unbreakable bond that exists between our nations.
 
At the same time, we condemn in the strongest terms the statements by Hamas, which celebrated today's attack and called for further terrorist attacks against Jews. While Palestinian Authority President Abbas did condemn today's attack, it was offered in the context of his having already incited violence by his libelous statements that Jews were contaminating Muslim holy sites and his Fatah-controlled broadcast media glorifying today's attackers as martyrs and heroes. We ask for the international community to unite and demand that the Palestinian Authority and Hamas put an immediate end to its campaign of libel and incitement. Responsible language and actions by Palestinian and Israeli leaders will help calm the tensions and bring about reasoned dialogue.
 
We encourage people of all faiths to voice their rejection to the violent attack that took place this morning in Jerusalem.

May the families of the victims be comforted and may peace and tranquility be restored to the residents of Jerusalem.”