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JERUSALEM: Israel’s cabinet stood for a moment’s silence on Sunday to honor the victims of a synagogue shooting that killed at least 11 worshippers in Pittsburgh.
“The entire nation of Israel mourns with the families of the murdered in the horrendous massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet session.
Saturday’s shooting “is the biggest anti-Semitic crime” in the annals of the United States, he said, calling on the world to unite in the fight against anti-Semitism everywhere.
“It is hard to overstate the horror of the murder of Jews who congregate on the Sabbath and who were murdered only because they were Jews,” Netanyahu added.
A gunman yelling, “All Jews must die,” stormed the Tree of Life synagogue during Jewish sabbath services, killing 11 worshippers and wounding six others, including four police officers, before he was arrested.
Synagogue gunman spoke of 'genocide and desire to kill Jews'
“On my behalf, on behalf of the government of Israel and the nation of Israel I convey our heartfelt condolences to the families that have lost dear ones. We all pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded,” Netanyahu said.
The Western-backed Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry issued a statement describing the shooting as an “act of terrorism that targeted a synagogue ... in which American Jews and policemen were killed.”
It added: “We condemn the targeting of places of worship by terrorists motivated by odious, fascist beliefs based on the supremacy of the white race.”
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