Live Blog: Tens of thousands stream to cemetery for burial of three teens
Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon vows the Israeli security forces “will not rest” until the operatives behind the deaths of the teenagers are brought to justice. Speaking at the funeral for Eyal Yifrach, 19, in Elad, the defense minister says the teenagers “were kidnapped and murdered just because they were Jews.”Rabbi Lord Sacks: In memoriam Eyal, Gilad and Naftali
“The grief and agony that envelops you since receiving the bitter news, envelops the entire country,” he says, after the recitation of a Natan Alterman poem.
“In the past three weeks that have passed since the kidnapping of Eyal, Gil-ad, and Naftali, we discovered daily a bit more about their unique personalities: Their warm and loving connection to their families, their hobbies that were their trademark among the families and friends, all the small things that remind us, at the end of the day, that they were youngsters at the beginning of their lives, which was cut short.”
The defense minister addresses the Yifrach family directly, saying “these are the hours when the personal grief is in the public domain.”
Ya’alon says he had the “privilege” of meeting the Yifrach family during these tumultuous, difficult times, who embody “all that is good and noble,” and are “a symbol for us all.”
Eyal, Gilad and Naftali were killed by people who believed in death. Too often in the past Jews were victims of people who practised hate in the name of the God of love, cruelty in the name of the God of compassion, and murder in the name of the God of life. It is shocking to the very depths of humanity that this still continues to this day.Follow Golda's lead
Never was there a more pointed contrast than, on the one hand, these young men who dedicated their lives to study and to peace, and on the other the revelation that other young men, even from Europe, have become radicalised into violence in the name of God and are now committing murder in His name. That is the difference between a culture of life and one of death, and this has become the battle of our time, not only in Israel but in Syria, in Iraq, in Nigeria and elsewhere. Whole societies are being torn to shreds by people practising violence in the name of God.
Against this we must never forget the simple truth that those who begin by practising violence against their enemies end by committing it against their fellow believers. The verdict of history is that cultures that worship death, die, while those that sanctify life, live on. That is why Judaism survives while the great empires that sought its destruction were themselves destroyed.
Our tears go out to the families of Eyal, Gilad and Naftali. We are with them in grief. We will neither forget the young victims nor what they lived for: the right that everyone on earth should enjoy, to live a life of faith without fear.
Following the news, the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet convened in the exact same place where it met 41 years ago, headed by then-Prime Minister Golda Meir. It was the day that conflicting reports about a possible terror attack at the Munich Olympics started pouring in. At the end of that day, the murder of 11 Israelis by Palestinian terrorists was confirmed. The elderly, heavy footed woman turned to the generals around her and declared that the murderers and their accomplices must not be allowed to live. She spoke plainly, and the world knew that the Palestinian murderers were dead men walking, with targets on their foreheads just waiting for an Israeli bullet.Netanyahu Spokesperson: Murder of Israeli Teens 'Demonstrates Clearly What Hamas is All About'
The full execution of Meir's instructions stretched out over 20 years. In 1992, the last of the terrorists who took part in the Olympic massacre was killed. To their dying day, they were frightened and on the run.
NGO Monitor: There is no ‘cycle of violence’
Three Israeli teenagers, Naftali Fraenkel, Gil-ad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach, were kidnapped and murdered in cold blood on their way home from school only because they were Israeli Jews. Their Palestinian Arab murderers, as identified by Israel, did not know their victims and they did not care. The objective was to attack some hated Israelis, and perhaps exchange them or their bodies for jailed murderers. Any random Jews would do.The Blood Cries Out
So it has been for some 100 years in this long war against Jewish national sovereignty and equality among the nations. Long before the 1967 war and the “occupation” provided an excuse for hate and murder, such acts of inhuman violence were common. In 1929, when the Jewish community of Hebron was massacred (ethnically cleansed in modern parlance), there was no cycle of violence — this was an entirely unilateral act.
Are they dancing in Gaza? Are they giving out candy in Ramallah as they usually do when Jewish people grieve?The Enabling Evil of the Obama Administration
Who are these savages that rejoice at the misfortunes of their neighbors – and who are these savages that commit these atrocities?
We all know where we were when we first heard it: “The Three Abducted Israeli Teens Found Murdered.”
Their names are important: Eyal Yifrah, Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar. They should be remembered for all time because whatever children they were destined to produce, thousands into eternity, are now stillborn. So it is our duty to offer them and their families the gift and comfort of blessed remembrance.
These kids – they were the light of Israel. They were the best. This is a terrible loss.
What was the purpose of this? What the hell was the purpose? These Palestinian Arab monsters, Hamas or otherwise, they cannot be human.
We walk the same streets and yet we live a universe apart. We celebrate life. They celebrate death.
During that same period of time, President Barack Obama has said nothing publicly about the kidnapping. His administration has continued funding the Palestinian government, despite vast bipartisan opposition to such funding. There have been no hashtags from Michelle Obama, no press conferences with the parents of 16-year-old Naftali Frenkel. The Frenkel family had a son, but he did not look sufficiently like Barack Obama's imaginary son for him to care.PMW:Fatah falsely depicts murdered teens as "soldiers"
And in response to the murders, the Obama administration has called on Israel to exercise restraint.
There are two types of evil people in this world: people who commit evil acts, and people who enable and encourage those people. Hamas falls into the first. The Obama administration falls into the second.
Following its Facebook celebrations of the kidnapping of three Israeli teens, the Fatah movement, headed by Mahmoud Abbas, referred to the murdered kids as "soldiers" in its first reaction to the news of the discovery of the boys' dead bodies.New Jewish Community Dedicated in Wake of Boys' Murder
Fatah posted photos of young Israelis mourning the death of the three students Naftali Frenkel, aged 16, Gilad Shaar, aged 16, and Eyal Yifrach, aged 19, and wrote:
"Israelis crying over the three killed soldiers, whose bodies, according to Israeli claims, were found this evening in Hebron, 19 days after they disappeared."
As questions linger after the horrific murders of abducted yeshiva students Naftali Frenkel (16), Gilad Sha'ar (16), and Eyal Yifrah (19) linger, one group of pioneers came up with its own Zionist answer Monday: building more Jewish homes.What happened on the night of the kidnapping
Activists from Women in Green joined a group of Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria to form the new community of Givat Oz on Monday night, in a show of Jewish and Zionist strength and renewal.
Givat Oz overlooks the Gush Etzion intersection where the boys were kidnapped on June 12, and is adjacent to the historical community of Migdal Eder, which was dismantled in 1927.
On Monday, the pioneers reclaimed this area, cleaning out an abandoned structure on the site and naming it "Givat Oz" and calling upon the government to immediately apply sovereignty over the region, starting with Hevron and Gush Etzion.
The prevailing assessment within the defense establishment is that the kidnappers, at least at first, only saw one of the hitchhikers, perhaps Yifrach, who did not know Shaar and Fraenkel. Only once the kidnappers’ Hyundai i35 came to a stop did the kidnappers realize that they would be outnumbered by their hostages within the small confines of the car. This may be what changed the nature of the crime from kidnapping to murder, security sources suggested.Netanyahu Says Hamas Responsible for Teens’ Deaths; Terror Group Threatens to Open ‘Gates of Hell’ if Israel Strikes
Inside the Hyundai, Israel alleges, were Hamas terrorists Amer Abu Aysha and Marwan Kawasme.
Recognizing, too late, that the car was not an innocent Israeli vehicle, one of the teens called the police at 10:25 p.m. and whispered, “We’ve been kidnapped.” The call was transferred immediately to a senior officer, who continued to ask questions but received no reply. The call lasted for 2:09 minutes and was then cut off. The officer called the number eight more times, but received three busy signals and reached voicemail five times.
The kidnappers, apparently realizing that a call had been made, shot the three teens dead at that point in the backseat of the car, military sources said. Army Radio reported Tuesday that the three were shot during the phone call. It said blood and a bullet case were found in the car, as well as some of the killers’ personal effects.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday night said that “Hamas is responsible, and will pay the price” for the deaths of the three youths abducted on June 12.Yaalon Thanks IDF, Praises Bereaved Families for 'Steadfastness'
Hamas officials warned that if Israel strikes Gaza in retaliation for the deaths, or for the past two weeks of rocket fire into Israel, then “the gates of hell” will open.
“If the occupiers carry out an escalation or a war, they will open the gates of hell on themselves,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told AFP, according to the Palestinian Ma’an News Agency.
“The body of three settlers discovered,” Hamas MP Mushir Al-Masri wrote on his Facebook page, according to The Times of Israel.
“Better luck next time, God willing,” Al-Masri wrote, mockingly.
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon praised the bereaved families of kidnapped and murdered teens Naftali Frenkel (16), Gilad Sha'ar (16), and Eyal Yifrah (19) Tuesday morning, in an expression of mourning and solidarity.IDF: It's Not Over Until We Find the Murderers
"This is a painful time for the Frenkel, Sha'ar, and Yifrah families," Ya'alon began. "The grief that envelops them, envelops the entire nation. Grief envelops the parents, who coped admirably and showed steadfastness in light of the absence of their sons, and gave the IDF, Shin Bet and Israel Police the power to continue the search until the bitter end."
"I had the privilege to meet them twice," he continued. "The parents embody all that is good and noble in humanity. With a heavy heart, I participate in the mourning of the parents and bereaved family members and I wish to strengthen them during this difficult time."
Major General Nitzan Alon, head of the IDF’s Central Command, told reporters that the IDF is determined to continue the operation until it finds the two terrorists who kidnapped the boys and murdered them.Under Threat, Pro-Israel Arab Boys Now Looking for Safe Houses
“A few hours ago we found three bodies west of Halhoul. I want to send a warm hug to the Sha’ar, Frenkel and Yifrah families," said Alon.
He continued, "Even at this moment, thousands of soldiers and commanders are continuing their mission. The task is not over as far as we’re concerned, even now we continue the search for the kidnappers and we will not rest until we've completed the mission."
General Alon said that "we have information passed on to us by the Israel Security Agency and the intelligence authorities. The war on terror continues, we will continue the mission to protect the people.”
Concerned Zionists are are working to place two courageous Muslim youths from Israel, Mohammad Zoabi and Yihya Mahmeed, in safe environments – after they expressed opinions sympathetic to the abducted Jewish teens and became targets of hatred in the radical Muslim community.American Jewish Groups Express Anguish, Solidarity Following Discovery of Murdered Israeli Teens
Zoabi received much media attention after he posted a video on Facebook expressing his concern for the three teen hostages. Mahmeed uploaded a picture of himself to Facebook, with a large Israeli flag and a sign saying "#Bring Back Our Boys."
The two boys, both high school students, immediately began receiving death threats. Several of Zoabi's relatives were arrested on suspicion of planning to abduct him to Samaria. Mahmeed was assaulted in the street in his city of Umm al Fahm the other day while he was walking to school for his final exams. As result, he missed his exam.
Major American Jewish groups expressed outrage and grief following reports from Israel on Monday that three teens who were kidnapped on June 12 were found murdered.Obama: I cannot imagine indescribable pain of teens’ parents
“We share the anguish of the parents and families of Naftali, Gilad and Eyal, and of the entire Israeli nation,” said American Jewish Committee Executive Director David Harris. “Cowardly terrorists chose three Jewish youths, innocently hitchhiking to return home for Shabbat, to seize and mercilessly kill.”
US President Barack Obama expressed his condolences Monday to the families of the three slain Israeli teenagers, Eyal Yifrach, Naftali Fraenkel and Gil-ad Shaar, whose bodies were found several hours earlier near the Palestinian village of Halhul, north of Hebron. The three had been abducted on June 12 while they were hitchhiking from a bus stop in the Etzion Bloc in the West Bank.Phyllis Chesler: White House's 'Condolences' for Murdered Israeli Teens Will not be Enough
“On behalf of the American people I extend my deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar, and Naftali Fraenkel – who held Israeli and American citizenship,” said Obama in a statement. “As a father, I cannot imagine the indescribable pain that the parents of these teenage boys are experiencing. The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms this senseless act of terror against innocent youth. From the outset, I have offered our full support to Israel and the Palestinian Authority to find the perpetrators of this crime and bring them to justice, and I encourage Israel and the Palestinian Authority to continue working together in that effort.
“I also urge all parties to refrain from steps that could further destabilize the situation. As the Israeli people deal with this tragedy, they have the full support and friendship of the United States.”
President Obama expressed his "deepest condolences" to the family of the slain teenagers. He added: “I also urge all parties to refrain from steps that could further destabilize the situation.” President Obama did not accuse Hamas of this despicable act nor did he say our government would assist Israel in its search for security and justice. Obama has once again called for “restraint” and “stability.” Does he mean that Jihadists should refrain from Jihad because it is “de-stabilizing” the entire Middle East or does he mean, more likely, that Israel should “refrain” from defending itself?Kerry condemns murders, Congress takes on Palestinian unity government
White House spokesman, Josh Earnest, also said: "We obviously condemn in the strongest possible terms violence that takes the lives of innocent civilians."
This is a very unsatisfying and peculiar statement. To what is Earnest referring? This could apply to anyone anywhere at any time. It’s lack of specificity is cruel and insulting.
Others, however, saw the murders as the last evidence that the Palestinian unity government must be dissolved.World Leaders Condemn 'Cowardly Murders'
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Ranking Member of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee issued a statement calling on Abbas to voluntarily dissolve the unity agreement that he entered with Hamas in April if it is proven that Hamas was behind the murders.
French President Francois Hollande on Monday led foreign leaders in condemning the "cowardly murder" of three Israeli teenagers whose bodies were found near Hevron three weeks after they went missing.Canada's Harper 'sickened' by news of murdered teens
Hollande "strongly condemns the cowardly murder of Eyal Ifrach, Naftali Frankel and Gilad Shaer and offers his sincere condolences to their families as well as to the Israeli authorities," the presidency said in a statement.
Shortly after his statement, Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron branded the murders an "inexcusable act of terror", and said Britain will back Jerusalem as it seeks justice.
"I am deeply saddened by the news that the bodies of the three Israeli boys kidnapped on 12 June have been found this evening," Cameron said in a statement. "This was an appalling and inexcusable act of terror perpetrated against young teenagers. Britain will stand with Israel as it seeks to bring to justice those responsible."
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper wrote on Tuesday that he was "sickened by the news of three Israeli teenagers being found murdered near Hebron."Tony Blair: There's No Justification for Murder of Teens
"Those responsible must be brought to justice," the prime minister tweeted.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Quartet’s envoy to the Middle East, said he was “shocked and appalled by the heinous and wicked kidnapping and murder of the three Israeli teenagers, and my heartfelt sympathy and condolences go to the families of Eyal Yifrah, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel."Angela Merkel Adds Germany’s Voice to Condemnations
"There can be no justification for this act, there can be no compromise with those responsible, and the whole international community should be united in condemning it," he added.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has added her voice to the chorus of world leaders who have weighed in with condemnations following the discovery of the bodies of Eyal Yifrach, 19, Naftali Frenkel, 16 and Gilad Sha’ar, 16, who were murdered by their terrorist captors.UN Chief Condemns Murders, Calls to Find Terrorists
Merkel said she was “shocked” by the murders, calling it a “detestable act for which there is no excuse,” according to her spokesperson Steffen Seibert. He added the chancellor’s thoughts were with the families and friends of the teens.
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday condemned the murders of Israeli teenagers Eyal Yifrah, Gilad Sha’ar and Naftali Frenkel, while Israel’s ambassador to the UN called on the Security Council to issue a condemnation as well.Leftist NGO Reacts to Murders - by Calling for IDF Restraint
“The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms the murder of the three Israeli teenagers abducted on 12 June in [Judea and Samaria],” a statement from Ban said.
“There can be no justification for the deliberate killing of civilians,” said the UN chief, who said he “hopes Israeli and Palestinian authorities will work together to bring the perpetrators swiftly to justice, and extends his deepest sympathy to the families of the victims.”
“The Secretary-General believes this heinous act by enemies of peace aims to further entrench division and distrust and to widen the conflict. It must not be allowed to succeed. He calls on all parties to abide by their obligations under international law and to refrain from any actions that could further escalate this highly tense situation,” said the UN statement
While leftist group B'Tselem “strongly condemned” the murders of teen kidnap victims Eyal Yifrah (19), Naftali Frenkel (16), and Gilad Sha'ar (16), the organization is also very concerned that Israel will engage in “collective punishment” against Palestinians “in revenge” for the murders.Netanyahu Criticizes Arab Leaders for Not Condemning Kidnapping
“B'Tselem renews its call to the Israeli government to refrain from acts of vengeance for the abduction and killing of the three Israeli teens,” the group said in an statement. “B'Tselem cautions the security forces to avoid harming the innocent Palestinian population, or abusing the public atmosphere in Israel with the discovery of the bodies, to impose collective punishment, as was done in the past two weeks as part of the searches. The deliberate harming of an entire civilian population as punishment for the actions of individuals is both illegal and immoral."
“Additionally, the security forces must prepare for possible acts of revenge by settlers,” the group added.
The prime minister noted that many of Israel's Arab citizens have not condemned the abduction, and criticized the Arab leadership in Israel.European Jewish Congress calls for EU to cut ties with Palestinians
"I am disappointed in their institutional leadership, who did not bother to condemn the act," Netanyahu said. "This is serious because these leaders are not willing to do even what [Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud] Abbas has done: condemn[ing] the act of kidnapping innocent children."
"If they want to be part of Israeli society, they must condemn it," he added.
The European Jewish Congress, a WJC affiliate, likewise called a change in the status quo, demanding that the European Union “immediately cease all support, funding and political contact of and with the new government of the Palestinian Authority until it suspends the agreement with Hamas.”Shmuley Boteach: Imams must condemn the murder
“Neither the cause of Middle East peace nor the protection of young lives are served by this perpetual apology for Islamist fundamentalism, terror and extremism which threatens not only Israel, but the whole of the Middle East region and indeed, the continent of Europe itself,” EJC President Dr. Moshe Kantor said.
The world’s rabbis all joined to condemn Baruch Goldstein’s loathsome murder of innocent Arabs at prayer in February, 1994. I was on British TV calling it abomination. Now that three innocent young Jews were found right outside Hebron, their bodies mutilated, will our Muslim brothers rise to the occasion and purge the terrorists from among them?Abbas asks world leaders to help restrain Israel
The moral equivalency between Hamas members targeting teenagers for murder with Israel striking Hamas in Gaza to stop rocket fire on schools is itself morally repugnant. The Ten Commandments say, “Thou shalt not murder,” rather than “Thou shalt not kill.” Murder is the taking of innocent lives in cold blood. Killing is protecting the innocent from murderers as an act of self-defense. There, in a nutshell, is the difference between the bloodthirsty criminals of Hamas and Israel.
We are all equally children of the one God, and Imams must rise up to condemn these murders even more than Rabbis.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas spoke to several world leaders Monday night, hours after the bodies of the three kidnapped Israeli teenagers were found near Hebron in the West Bank, and asked them for help in reining in an Israeli response.BBC’s ‘Newsnight’ facilitates Barghouti claim of ‘international law’ as excuse for murders of teens
According to Israel Radio, Abbas was set to convene a meeting in Ramallah Tuesday to discuss the possible measures Israel may take in response to the murders, which it has blamed on Hamas. Abbas is said to be anticipating a firm Israeli demand that the Palestinian Authority end its unity pact with Hamas.
On the evening of June 30th, as news broke of the discovery of the bodies of the three kidnapped and murdered Israeli teenagers Eyal Yifrach, Naftali Frenkel and Gil-ad Sha’ar, one interviewee the BBC deemed appropriate for the circumstances was – once again – Mustafa Barghouti.Hamas leaders in Gaza scramble to avoid Israeli attack (Al-Monitor
The BBC Two ‘Newsnight’ interview with Barghouti was also promoted on the BBC News website under the title “‘Israel responsible for deaths’ – Dr Mustafa Barghouti“.
Relatively unhindered by ‘Newsnight’ presenter Laura Kuenssberg, Barghouti was given a platform for amplification of the notion of people as ‘illegal settlers’ and ‘international law’ as an excuse for murder.
Going into the third week since the disappearance of the three Israeli settlers [sic] from the West Bank, Hamas, which Israel accused of the kidnapping, feels that an attack against it in the Gaza Strip is imminent. The concern has become even more pressing with reports that three bodies were found near Hebron, the home city of the two Hamas-linked suspects identified by Israel last week as Marwan Qawasmeh and Amer Abu Aisha.Israelly Cool: Despicable Reactions To The Murder Of Three Israeli Boys (Updated)
Al-Monitor has learned that Hamas leaders in Gaza have virtually disappeared from sight, with journalists facing great challenges in reaching them. Hamas has implemented strict security measures to thwart any Israeli attack against its leaders, who resurfaced only to attend the funeral of five Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades militants who died on the evening of June 20, when a tunnel collapsed on them in eastern Gaza.
I suspect this list will only grow.Technion condemns student’s status expressing joy for teens’ murders
Max Blumenthal, Ali Abunimah, +972 Magazine, Medea Benjamin etc.
An Arab-Israeli student from the Technion-Institute of Technology caused an uproar on social media on Tuesday when he posted a message to his Facebook page indicating he was happy about the murder of the three Israeli teens.The New York Times Double Standard, Again
"Record...3 goals for the national team despite its absence from the Palestinian World Cup!" he wrote and added a picture of the three murdered teens.
Rudoren is preoccupied with two mothers who serve her symbolic purpose: Rachel Frankel, whose innocent hitch-hiking son was kidnapped, most likely by Hamas, and Aida Dudeen, whose stone-throwing son was killed by an Israeli soldier he targeted. Ms. Frankel is the latest Israeli parent “symbolizing the sacrifice generations of Israeli children make growing up amid enemies” – who are unidentified. Ms. Dudeen is “the mother of yet another of the thousands celebrated as martyrs in the decades-long struggle against Israel” who wants “my homeland to be liberated from Israeli colonialism.”i24 News Amends Incorrect Reference to Green Line
Providing equal time for mothers, according to the ostensibly neutral headline, who “Embody a Mideast Divide,” Jodi Rudoren has confounded an intentional Palestinian terrorist assault with an accidental Israeli response, the better to blame Israel for Palestinian terrorism. All the opinion, it seems, that The Times deems fit to print.
But now that the bodies of the murdered boys have been discovered, what moral equivalence will The Times offer?
CAMERA's Israel office has prompted correction of an article by Lily Galili on i24 News which incorrectly identified the Green Line as "Israel's internationally recognized border." In fact, the Green Line is an armistice demarcation line, and not an internationally recognized border.After Boys Found Murdered, CNN Questions if They Were Kidnapped
As news emerged that the three missing Israeli teenagers were found murdered, CNN simply said that the teens were "believed kidnapped."Israel Grieves for Three Murdered Teens, Media Makes a Mess
The three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped by Hamas-affiliated terrorists on June 12th. They were found murdered on Monday afternoon. CNN's coverage was highlighted by Israeli-American author Daniel Gordis on Twitter:
Israel mourns the loss of Naftali Fraenkel, Eyal Yifrach and Gil-ad Shaar, murdered by Hamas terrorists. The three teens’ bodies were discovered Monday evening in Halhul, north of Hebron. Based in Israel and with many of our staff having children of their own, the loss is acutely felt here at HonestReporting as it is throughout Israel and the Jewish world.Three Murdered Children: Why Can't the Media Say Terror?
Unfortunately, some of the media coverage has been flawed. Here we expose some of the worst offenders.