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Another Senseless Attack

July 19, 2012

Dear Friend of Israel,

The bus was full of families and teenagers eager to embark on their beach vacation. They arrived in Burgas, Bulgaria yesterday from Israel, part of a tour group headed to a nearby resort. Shortly after they boarded the buses, a loud explosion interrupted their happy chatter — ending seven lives and injuring at least 30 more.

Oren Katz, who was on a bus adjacent to the one that was bombed, described the fiery scene to CNN: "The moment we got on (the bus), we heard a very loud explosion… Everyone started running in all directions. There was a big chaos." Katz, who was on vacation with his wife and their three children, none of whom were hurt, said gravely, "I cannot forget the sight of body parts scattered around the bus." 

While the investigation into the attack is ongoing, after the bombing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a characteristically blunt statement: "All signs point toward Iran. Over the last few months we have seen Iran's attempts to attack Israelis in Thailand, India, Georgia, Kenya, Cyprus, and other countries." In fact, the Israeli government had requested that Bulgaria increase security measures following a bomb scare on a bus full of Israelis traveling to Bulgaria from Turkey in January. 

The attack in Bulgaria fell on the 18-year anniversary of the terrorist bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association building in Buenos Aires, Argentina. That attack — orchestrated by Iran, and carried out by the Hezbollah terrorist group — killed 85 people, and injured hundreds more. 

It is as yet uncertain whether this anniversary is a coincidence. Regardless, what happened in Bulgaria, and what happened in Argentina 18 years ago, serves as a painful reminder of why Israel takes security measures so seriously — and why The Fellowship remains committed to supporting projects that improve security not just in Israel, but in Jewish communities around the world, including in Bulgaria. Israel knows all too well that there is no placating terrorist groups like Hezbollah, or terrorist-promoting nations like Iran, that are driven by ideological hatred. They will attempt to strike again and again, and occasionally, tragically, despite the best efforts of security forces, they will succeed. The sooner the rest of the world faces up to this harsh reality, the better we will be able to confront the Islamist terrorists who threaten not only Israel, but the entire free world.

Please pray today for the victims of the attack in Bulgaria and their loved ones, and for all those whose lives have been permanently scarred by terror. And say a prayer, too, for the men and women who put their lives on the line confronting the terrorist threat around the world. May we all see the day when God blesses us with His most precious gift — the gift of shalom, peace.

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President

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