2008 Jerusalem yeshiva attack

2008 school mass shooting in Jerusalem yes October 2021 2008 Jerusalem yeshiva attack כניסה לספריה בישיבת מרכז הרב.jpg Memorial for the victims at the entrance to the library at Mercaz HaRav Israel jerusalem The attack site The Mercaz HaRav yeshiva at Kiryat Moshe, West Jerusalem 2008 3 6 y 8:36 pmhttp://news.nana10.co.il/Article/?ArticleID=542247&sid=126 Twenty minutes of fire until terrorist killed Nana 10 9 March 2008 he dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080313071722/http://news.nana10.co.il/Article/?ArticleID=542247&sid=126 13 March 2008 31 47 16 N 35 11 49 E inline,title 8:56 pm GMT+2 Mass shooting, school shooting 9 (including the perpetrator)https://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1204546422275&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Mercaz Harav hit by worst terror attack since April 2006 The Jerusalem Post 7 March 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110717231950/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1204546422275&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull 17 July 2011 11 1 (Alaa Abu Dheim)https://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1204546426120&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Terrorist was a driver for the Yeshiva The Jerusalem Post 7 March 2008 January 2017 InternetArchiveBot yes AK-47 Yitzhak Dadon and David Shapira On 6 March 2008, a lone Palestinian gunman shot multiple students at the Mercaz HaRav yeshiva, a religious school in West Jerusalem. Eight students and the assailant were killed. Eleven more were wounded, five of them placed in serious to critical condition."Eight killed at Jerusalem school ", BBC News, 6 March 2008"Terror Attack At Jerusalem Seminary – Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva"; 8 Dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110927101745/http://www.nationalterroralert.com/updates/2008/03/06/terror-attack-at-jerusalem-seminary-merkaz-harav-yeshiva-8-dead/ 27 September 2011 , NationalTerrorAlert.com, 6 March 2008.Jerusalem seminary attacked https://web.archive.org/web/20080308201142/http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/03/06/jerusalem_seminary_attacked/8267/ 8 March 2008 , UPI.com, 6 March 2008. The attack began at 8:30 p.m. local time and ended sixteen minutes later. The attacker was stopped by long-time Mercaz HaRav student Yitzhak Dadon and off-duty Israel Defense Forces Captain David Shapira, who killed the perpetrator with their personal firearms.One year on, horror of yeshiva terror attack still fresh https://web.archive.org/web/20090417080545/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1066542.html 17 April 2009 Haaretz, 24 February 2009 The attack itself was praised by Hamas and, according to a subsequent poll, was supported by 84 percent of the Palestinian population, the highest result showing support for violence in 15 years, which the pollster concluded was the result of recent actions by Israel in Gaza and the West Bank.https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Poll-84-percent-of-Palestinians-back-yeshiva-attack Poll: 84% of Palestinians back yeshiva attack 19 March 2008 The Jerusalem Post 18 March 2011 It was condemned in official statements by various countries around the world. The shooting The attacker, Alaa Abu Dheim, age 26, from the Arab neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber in East Jerusalem, who, according to his family, worked as a driver for a private company that made deliveries to the yeshiva,https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/08/world/middleeast/08mideast.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin 8 Burials for Jerusalem Seminary's Dead The New York Times Isabel Kershner Steven Erlanger 8 March 2008 entered the building carrying a box concealing an AKM along with several magazines, later firing as many as 500–600 rounds.8 murdered by terrorist in J'lem https://www.jpost.com/Israel/8-murdered-by-terrorist-in-Jlem The Jerusalem Post Jerusalem 6 March 2008 Dheim entered the courtyard of the yeshiva at the main entrance, put down the box and took out the weapon, and opened fire on a group of students from the Yashlatz yeshiva high school and Mercaz HaRav who were standing at the entrance, killing three of them. He then went into the yeshiva library and fired at the students there, killing five and wounding nine, three of them seriously. Seventeen students managed to escape into an adjacent classroom and blocked the door with a heavy table. Ten minutes after the shooting began, two police officers, one male and one female, arrived on the scene. The policewoman stopped a nearby passenger bus and prevented it from approaching, while the policeman entered the courtyard with a rifle. Dheim noticed him through the glass door of the yeshiva library and shot at him, but the officer, not knowing the precise source of the fire and afraid of harming innocents, did not return the fire and took cover. Immediately after the police arrived, Captain David Shapira, a graduate of the yeshiva and an officer in the Israel Defense Forces who lived nearby but was not on duty at the time, arrived at the scene with his M-16 rifle, while Yitzhak Dadon, a yeshiva student who had a gun, positioned himself on the roof of a nearby building. The police officer in the courtyard warned Shapira not to enter, but Shapira ignored him, and entered the building near the library door and positioned himself in a nearby corridor. Sixteen minutes after the shooting began, Dheim emerged from the library, and Dadon and Shapira opened fire, killing him.https://www.makorrishon.co.il/nrg/online/1/ART1/711/659.html 'השוטר לא ירה אפילו כדור אחד על המחבל' Hebrew The policeman 'did not fire a single bullet at the terrorist' 19 March 2008 Eric Bender makorrishon.co.ilZino Aviram 8 killed in Jerusalem terror attack http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3515985,00.html Ynetnews 18 December 2012 7 March 2008 Timeline section March 2018 thumb|right|250px|One of the yeshiva buildings 8:30 pm – Shooting begins. 8:36 pm – First call received by a Magen David Adom operator from a yeshiva student inside the building requesting emergency services. 8:37 pm – First ambulances dispatched. 8:40 pm – The first police car arrives at the scene; officer does not enter.J'lem police chief: Cop on duty should've stopped yeshiva attacker https://web.archive.org/web/20090201040408/http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/966056.html 1 February 2009 Haaretz, 19 March 2008 8:41 pm – First paramedic on site reports of one wounded. 8:42 pm – Shapira enters the yeshiva. 8:45 pm – Two detectives arrive on the scene. 8:46 pm – Attacker killed. 8:51 pm – 'A.R.A.N.' declared (multiple wounded event). 8:57 pm – MADA operator reports 'end of shooting' and orders paramedics into yeshiva. Assailant thumb|130px|The assailant, Alaa Abu Dheim The gunman, Alaa Abu Dheim (ar علاء أبو دهيم, he עלא אבו-דהיים), a resident of Jerusalem, was, according to his family, a driver who delivered goods to the yeshiva;Gunman was seminary driver – police https://web.archive.org/web/20080314133732/http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/world/peace%20talks%20must%20go%20on%20says%20abbas/1728547 14 March 2008 , Channel 4. Retrieved 19 November 2014. this was later denied by the head of the yeshiva. November 2014 December 2012 The gunman's family said he was an intensely religious Muslim but not a member of any militant group. November 2014 Abu Dheim, like other Arab residents of East Jerusalem who choose not to have Israeli citizenship, carried an Israeli identity card that granted him freedom of movement and travel throughout Israel.http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/03/08/israel.school.massacre CNN Eight arrested in probe of Jewish seminary attack 8 March 2008 12 May 2010 On 5 January 2009, the Israeli High Court of Justice authorized the demolition of Abu Dheim's family home.Demolition of Mercaz Harav terrorist's home authorized http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3650679,00.html 19 November 2014 Motive Operation Hot Winter Although Abu Dhaim left behind no statement describing his motive, his sister, Iman Abu Dhaim, told the Associated Press that he had been radicalized by the violence in Gaza, where 126 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces from Wednesday through Monday, in response to rocket fire from Palestinian militant groups based in Gaza."Attacks Mar Israeli-Palestinian Talks" https://web.archive.org/web/20181119042109/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88008096 19 November 2018 , NPR. Retrieved 19 November 2014."Israel signals that it will continue peace talks despite attack", NBC News. Retrieved 19 November 2014. According to journalist Ian Black, the attack seemed intended to send the message that Israeli attacks on its enemies, either in Gaza, Lebanon or Syria would not go unanswered. The seminary is identified with the spiritual leadership of the Jewish settlement movement in the West Bank, and especially with Gush Emunim. Jerusalem may have been chosen as there had been no attacks in the city during 2007.Black, Ian."A double act of revenge: carefully planned atrocity strikes at Israel's spiritual heart" https://web.archive.org/web/20181118210010/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/mar/07/israelandthepalestinians1 18 November 2018 , The Guardian. Retrieved 19 November 2014. Claims of responsibility Hezbollah television network Al-Manar reported that a group calling itself Galilee Liberators Brigades—the Martyrs of Imad Mughniyeh has claimed responsibility for the attack, raising the possibility that the shooting was in retaliation for the assassination of Imad Mughniyeh. Israel had previously denied responsibility for that assassination.Jonathan Lis Yair Ettinger Amos Harel Eight killed in terrorist attack at Jerusalem yeshiva https://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/961696.html https://web.archive.org/web/20080310023320/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/961696.html dead 10 March 2008 Haaretz 6 March 2008 Hamas praised the attack on Thursday but did not claim responsibility for it. On Friday an anonymous phone call to the Reuters news agency took responsibility on Hamas's behalf. However, Fawzi Barhoum, a senior Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said that no claim was official unless made in a written statement signed by the military wing of Hamas. Reaction Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called the attack "horrible".Copans, Laurie. Israel Say Peace Talks to Continue Olmert also said that the Mercaz Harav yeshiva had produced, "the finest soldiers for many generations; people who have realized the Zionist faith. This yeshiva—which was founded by Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook—has educated and nurtured tradition and legacy, as part of Israel's resilience."Vered, Luvitch. "Education minister verbally attacked at Mercaz Harav yeshiva" https://web.archive.org/web/20181125190549/https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3516876,00.html 25 November 2018 , Ynetnews. Retrieved 19 November 2014. A spokesman for Olmert said Israel would act after proper investigation and deliberation, and he condemned those, like Hamas, who celebrated the killings with parades in Gaza. "That Hamas calls this a heroic act, and praises it, this exposes them for what they are", the Olmert spokesman said. However in their grief Olmert was not welcomed to visit the place of Torah learning. A yeshiva spokesperson told Ehud Olmert that he was not welcome at that time, saying it wanted to "save him and us the embarrassment.""Stricken J'lem yeshiva: PM not welcome to visit" https://web.archive.org/web/20090101071517/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/962317.html 1 January 2009 , Haaretz, 10 March 2008. Dalia Itzik of the ruling Kadima party, speaker of the Knesset and acting president while Shimon Peres is overseas, called for the demolition of the mourning tent for the killer and the demolition of his family's home.Knesset speaker calls for demolition of Jerusalem yeshiva terrorist's home https://web.archive.org/web/20100113191138/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/962839.html 13 January 2010 Haaretz. Retrieved 19 November 2014. Thousands in Israel mourned the deaths of those killed, observing Jewish traditions of mourning, with the murdered victims buried on Friday.McCarthy, Ron."Murder victims buried" https://web.archive.org/web/20181118205902/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/mar/07/israelandthepalestinians3?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront 18 November 2018 . The Guardian, 7 March 2008. A Channel 1 report that three alumni of the yeshiva were planning a revenge attack against a senior Arab official affiliated with a mosque on Jerusalem's Temple Mount, allegedly with permission from several rabbis, was dismissed by Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and the Shin Bet as baseless following their investigation. National Religious Party's MK Zevulun Orlev said he suspected the allegations were an attempt to "blemish religious Zionism.""Rightist rabbis urge Jews to avenge enemies 'measure for measure'" https://web.archive.org/web/20090827022234/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/963518.html 27 August 2009 , Haaretz, 12 March 2008."Report: Yeshiva graduates plan revenge attack against Arab figure" https://web.archive.org/web/20090628192332/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/963261.html 28 June 2009 , Haaretz. Retrieved 19 November 2014.Yeshiva students warned against Shin Bet agentJanuary 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 19 November 2014. Education Minister Yuli Tamir, who made a condolence visit to the yeshiva two days after the shooting, left and later claimed '[I] was kicked in the back twice, spat at, and verbally attacked by dozens of youths outside building', they called me 'murderer' and they said that "the Left is to blame for everything."Itzik: Destroy mourning' tent, home of Jerusalem terrorist Ynetnews http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3517507,00.html 10 March 2008 10 March 2008 Sela Neta She had said at the Yeshivah itself "This [hostility to the left as she saw it] reminded me of the days before (former Prime Minister Yitzhak) Rabin's murder. It's unfortunate that there is a public which cannot put limits from itself. I only came to pay my respect to the murdered, not to engage in politics." The next morning Yuli Tamir threatened to cut off funding for the yeshiva, citing a lack of "democratic values".http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=38529 IMRA 10 March 2008 Yuli Tamir threatens to ultimately cut funding of Mercaz Harav The Israel Football Association called for a minute's silence prior to the weekend's football matches, though it was marred in Sakhnin where some supporters of the Arab Bnei Sakhnin team booed. Bnei Sakhnin F.C. spokesman Mundar Haleileh said his club honored the moment of silence, "but we don't have full control over all fans. The association made the decision, and perhaps mixing politics with soccer is a matter to be discussed.""Moment of silence marred in Sakhnin" https://web.archive.org/web/20081008125440/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/962037.html 8 October 2008 Haaretz, 10 March 2008. On 17 March, hundreds of activists attacked Arab homes in the east Jerusalem neighborhood Jebl Mukaber in an attempt to raze the house of the family of the gunman. For three hours, the activists chanted "revenge, revenge", vandalized property of the Arab village (which the police tried to prevent), and clashed with the police, whom they accused of "guarding the murderers." Many of the protesters were part of the settler movement and carried signs with slogans such as "Expel the Arab Enemy" and "The Land of Israel for the Jewish People" while others shouted "kill the Arabs". Despite a heavy police blockade at the entrance to Jebl Mukaber and a massive deployment of security forces in the area, the marchers managed to enter the village, stone residents' homes and damage a couple of cars belonging to villagers. The police declared the demonstration illegal, and finally forced the protesters to leave.Shelly Paz 22 nabbed in right-wing Jebl Mukaber protest https://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1205420699147 The Jerusalem Post 16 March 2008 3 April 2008 January 2017 InternetArchiveBot yes At a memorial event one month after the attack, former Sephardi Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu told an audience of around 1,000 people that, in response to the attack, the government should establish a yeshiva or Jewish township for each life lost. He added "Even when we seek revenge, it is important to make one thing clear – the life of one yeshiva boy is worth more than the lives of 1,000 Arabs." However, other National Religious voices were more moderate. In the same one-month commemoration event, the Chief Rabbi of Ramat Gan, Rabbi Yaacov Ariel, reminded his audience: We do not seek revenge, only retaliation ... we are against killing innocent people or harming children."Rabbi Eliyahu: Life of one yeshiva boy worth more than 1,000 Arabs" https://web.archive.org/web/20080405075845/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3527410,00.html 5 April 2008 , Ynetnews. Retrieved 19 November 2014. The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem released a statement condemning the attack which read: "B'Tselem severely condemns the Palestinian terror attack that took place in a yeshiva (religious school) in Jerusalem, in which 8 Israeli civilians, including 4 minors were killed and many other persons were injured. Attacks aimed at civilians are immoral, inhuman, and illegal."http://www.btselem.org/english/Israeli_Civilians/20080307.asp B'Tselem 7 March 2008 8 Israeli civilian including 4 minors killed by Palestinians in Jerusalem Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority, stated "We condemn all attacks against civilians, be they Palestinian or Israeli."http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/newsmlmmd.141bc65a0c3d7202766ea46f73a8a6aa.941.html Eight teens killed in Jerusalem attack Agence France-Presse 6 March 2008 25 February 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210225090414/http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/newsmlmmd.141bc65a0c3d7202766ea46f73a8a6aa.941.html dead Supranational United Nations: The United Nations Security Council failed to agree on a condemnation of the attack due to opposition from Libya which wanted to link the condemnation to a resolution calling for censure of Israel over its actions in Gaza the previous week.http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20080306%5cACQDJON200803062101DOWJONESDJONLINE001186.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=Libya%20Blocks%20UN%20Council%20Condemnation%20Of%20Jerusalem%20Attack%20-AFP Libya Blocks UN Council Condemnation of Jerusalem Attack 6 March 2008 Nasdaq.com 8 June 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20120306040728/http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20080306%5cACQDJON200803062101DOWJONESDJONLINE001186.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=Libya%20Blocks%20UN%20Council%20Condemnation%20Of%20Jerusalem%20Attack%20-AFP 6 March 2012 dead International OIC The Organisation of the Islamic Conference condemned the killings, saying it abhorred violence anywhere in the world.Mar'i, Mohammed. "Annan, Carter to Launch Mideast Peace Mission https://web.archive.org/web/20160630003242/http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4&section=0&article=107613&d=8&m=3&y=2008 30 June 2016 ", ArabNews.com, 8 March 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2014. Sweden Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, described the incident as "an unacceptable terrorist attack."http://www.swedenabroad.com/News____11023.aspx?slaveid=72298 Embassy of Sweden swedenabroad.com 8 March 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080314133709/http://www.swedenabroad.com/News____11023.aspx?slaveid=72298 14 March 2008 USA United States President George W. Bush condemned the attack, and expressed his solidarity with the families of the victims and the people of Israel.https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/03/20080306-5.html President Bush Condemns Terrorist Attack in Israel White House 7 March 2008 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed her condolences on the attack. She also wrote that "The United States condemns tonight's act of terror and depravity."https://2001-2009.state.gov/secretary/rm/2008/03/101845.htm Condolences on Attack against Rabbinical Students 6 March 2008 state.gov 7 March 2008 United States Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (IL) phoned Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni while she was visiting the US. Obama expressed his condolences to the Israeli people and to the bereaved families in the wake of the terror attack in the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva. He also stressed Israel's right to defend itself and made it clear that both the US and Israel were interested in ensuring that Iran will not be acquiring nuclear weapons.Obama calls Livni, back's Israel's right for self-defense https://web.archive.org/web/20181116122345/https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3517989,00.html 16 November 2018 , Ynetnews. Retrieved 19 November 2014.Livni, in U.S., speaks to Obama by phone, pressing Iran issue https://web.archive.org/web/20080520111132/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/963286.html/ 20 May 2008 , Haaretz. Retrieved 19 November 2014. United States Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), at the time a leading presidential candidate, said "My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families who are suffering the loss and horror of this despicable act of terrorism. The United States and the international community must make clear that such deplorable acts of terrorism will not be tolerated and we must continue to stand with Israel in its fight against terror."Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senator for New York: Statement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on Terrorist Attack in Jerusalem https://web.archive.org/web/20080314114737/http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=294384&& 14 March 2008 , clinton.senate.gov. Retrieved 19 November 2014. Argentina Argentina's Foreign Ministry said: "Argentina's Government expresses our deep concern at the escalation of tensions and violence in the region and condemns the attack [...]" "Argentina urges for the cessation of violence ... this way will allow the negotiation process for a fair, global and durable peace"http://www.lanacion.com.ar/exterior/nota.asp?nota_id=993585 El Gobierno condenó el atentado en Jerusalén lanacion.com.ar 7 March 2008 es 14 March 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080314152102/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/exterior/nota.asp?nota_id=993585 dead Canada Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Bernier stated that "Canada condemns this terrorist act in the strongest possible terms. The attack does nothing to advance the Palestinian cause."http://w01.international.gc.ca/MinPub/Publication.aspx?isRedirect=True&Language=E&publication_id=385917&docnumber=52 Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada w01.international.gc.ca 8 March 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080316140751/http://w01.international.gc.ca/minpub/Publication.aspx?isRedirect=True&publication_id=385917&language=E&docnumber=52 16 March 2008 China Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang condemned the attack and expressed hope for the lessening of tensions in the Middle East.http://www.chinaembassy.org.il/eng/fyrth/t412855.htm Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang's Remarks on the Attack at a Jewish School in Jerusalem chinaembassy.org.il 7 March 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080314125904/http://www.chinaembassy.org.il/eng/fyrth/t412855.htm 14 March 2008 Slovenia Slovenia, which held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, issued a statement condemning the attack, and stating that "terrorist acts are unacceptable."http://www.delisr.ec.europa.eu/English/whatsnew.asp?id=972 EU Presidency condemns Jerusalem terror attack European Commission 8 March 2008 France France's Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner condemned the attack, and called for peace talks to continue despite the attack.http://194.90.243.96/spip.php?article5118 Attentat contre une école talmudique à Jérusalem – Mon site SPIP 194.90.243.96 8 March 2008 fr dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080314115505/http://194.90.243.96/spip.php?article5118 14 March 2008 Germany Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that the attack horrified him, and expressed his sympathy to the families.http://www.tel-aviv.diplo.de/Vertretung/telaviv/de/Startseite.html - Startseite tel-aviv.diplo.de 8 March 2008 de https://web.archive.org/web/20080310073555/http://www.tel-aviv.diplo.de/Vertretung/telaviv/de/Startseite.html 10 March 2008 deadhttp://www.tel-aviv.diplo.de/Vertretung/telaviv/he/Startseite.html - עמוד פתיחה tel-aviv.diplo.de 8 March 2008 he https://web.archive.org/web/20080306142632/http://www.tel-aviv.diplo.de/Vertretung/telaviv/he/Startseite.html 6 March 2008 dead Georgia The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the attack, and expressed its profound condolences to the families.http://www.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=461&info_id=6076 Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Of Georgia mfa.gov.ge 8 March 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080813153302/http://www.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=461&info_id=6076 13 August 2008 India The Indian Ministry for External Affairs condemned "the mindless terrorist attack" in which "eight young innocent Israeli lives were lost" and called for dialogue to end the "current cycle of violence".https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-condemns-attack-on-Israeli-seminary/articleshow/2848806.cms https://web.archive.org/web/20121020042639/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-03-09/india/27749753_1_terrorist-attack-seminary-mea-statement live 20 October 2012 India condemns attack on Israel seminary The Times of India 2 April 2008 9 March 2008 Ireland Ireland's Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern "strongly condemned the terrorist attack" and urged "all parties to end the spiral of violence."http://dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=43527 Department of Foreign Affairs – Minister Ahern condemns killing of Israeli religious students in Jerusalem dfa.ie 7 March 2008 Japan Masahiko Kōmura, the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, said that "Japan expresses its condolences to the bereaved families as well as deepest sympathy for the people who were injured. Terrorism cannot be justified for any reason, and any attempt to justify it is unacceptable."http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2008/3/1178471_990.html MOFA: Statement by Foreign Minister Koumura on the terrorist shooting attack in Jerusalem mofa.go.jp 8 March 2008 Jordan Jordanian police dismantled a mourning tent erected outside the home of relatives of the shooter.https://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/107408.html JTA, Jewish & Israel News jta.org 8 March 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080314181424/http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/107408.html 14 March 2008https://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1204546430941&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Jordan stops public mourning of gunman The Jerusalem Post 8 March 2008 January 2017 InternetArchiveBot yes Norway Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre condemned the attack and expressed his sympathies to the families.http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/press/News/2008/jerusalem_attack.html?id=503073 Norway condemns terrorist attack in Jerusalem 7 March 2008 regjeringen.no 8 March 2008 UK British Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned the attack, saying that it was "an attempt to strike a blow at the very heart of the peace process."http://www.britemb.org.il/News/2008/Brown070308.htm British Embassy Tel Aviv, News: PM Brown condemns Jerusalem terror attack britemb.org.il 8 March 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080315022230/http://www.britemb.org.il/News/2008/Brown070308.htm 15 March 2008 Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband condemned the attack and expressed his hope for a peaceful Middle East.http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391638&a=KArticle&aid=1203948577072 Press Releases Foreign & Commonwealth Office fco.gov.uk 7 March 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090308120751/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage 8 March 2009 Praise for the attack The Palestinian National Authority daily newspaper, Al-Hayat al-Jadida, honored the shooter as a "martyr". The paper prominently placed a picture of the gunman on the front page, with the caption, "The Martyr Alaa Abu Dheim". In a front-page article on the killings, his act was again defined as a "martyrdom-achieving" action. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri stated that "This heroic attack in Jerusalem is a normal response to the crimes of the occupier and its murder of civilians".http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Gunman_kills_8_in_Jerusalem_school/articleshow/2843918.cms 8 shot at Jerusalem school The Times of India 7 March 2008 7 March 2008 In a poll taken two weeks later by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, 84 percent of Palestinians supported the attack on the Mercaz Harav yeshiva. The pollster, Mr. Shikaki was "shocked" and said the result was the single highest support for an act of violence in his 15 years of polling. According to The New York Times, the pollster posited in his own words that recent Israeli actions had "led to despair and rage among average Palestinians who thirst for revenge", including the death of 130 people as a result of attacks on Gaza, the killing of four militants in an undercover operation in Bethlehem and plans to expand several Israeli settlements in the West Bank.https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/19/world/middleeast/19mideast.html The New York Times Poll Shows Most Palestinians Favor Violence Over Talks Ethan Bronner 19 March 2008 12 May 2010 According to The Jerusalem Post, in March 2008, Abdel Bari Atwan, editor-in-chief of Arab language newspapers, as well as a London based Pan-Arab paper, said the murder of 15-year-old students "was justified" and that the celebrations in Gaza following the murders symbolized "the courage of the Palestinian nation" and "marks Israel's destruction."Paul Jonny Arab daily: Mercaz Harav attack was justified https://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=95074 10 November 2012 The Jerusalem Post 15 March 2008 London Conversely in his English language appearances on BBC Dateline and Dutch television, and in his book he stated "We have to learn to live together in peace and co-operation in a multi-cultural society in one democratic secular state for two people. One state for both peoples governed by a representative democracy and on an equal footing. We manage it here in London, it is working in South Africa, and there is enough room for everyone in Palestine. I respect the Jewish people and their religion. I do not want to destroy Israel but I do want to end racism and the current Apartheid system."A Country of Words, p. 280. Saqi Books, London, 2008; 978-0-86356-621-9. See also List of school-related attacks Ma'alot massacre Hebrew University bombing Avivim school bus bombing Jerusalem bulldozer attack Jerusalem BMW attack 2014 Jerusalem synagogue attack References 30em External links "Gunman kills 8 in Jerusalem Jewish college", reuters.com, 7 March 2008. "Gunman Kills 8 in Attack on School in Jerusalem", The New York Times, 6 March 2008. Death Comes for Israel's Seminarians – published on TIME on 6 March 2008 Terror shooting at Mercaz Harav Kook Yeshiva in Jerusalem, mfa.gov.il, 6 March 2008. 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