Netanyahu: ‘Heroic’ Terror Victim ‘Prevented a Greater Tragedy’

Israel leaders sent out expressions of shock and sadness over the murder of Ari Fuld, the victim of a terrorist attack at the Gush Etzion shopping mall.

Fuld was stabbed to death by a “Palestinian.”

Fuld and another citizen in the mall were able to shoot and injure the terrorist in the process — and for this, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Fuld a hero.

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Leaders in Israel and around the world as well as ordinary citizens of diverse backgrounds and political leanings expressed shock and sorrow over the murder of Ari Fuld, who was stabbed to death by a Palestinian terrorist at the Gush Etzion shopping mall on Sunday.

Fuld and another civilian shot and wounded the terrorist before he collapsed. Through their courageous actions, they prevented a much larger attack.

“In the name of every citizen of Israel, I send my condolences to the family of Ari Fuld, who was murdered today in a terrorist attack in Gush Etzion,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on social media.

“With his last strength, Ari fought heroically against the terrorist and prevented a greater tragedy. Ari was a wonderful father to four children. He was an advocate for Israel who fought to spread the truth about Israel. May his memory be a blessing,” he added.

Jason D. Greenblatt, assistant to President Donald Trump and Special Representative for International Negotiations tweeted that “words cannot express our feeling of loss as an American-Israeli, Ari Fuld, was stabbed to death by a Palestinian terrorist.”

“In Ari’s last breaths, he heroically immobilized the terrorist, saving many other lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ari’s family & his loved ones,” he added.

US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who attended Fuld’s late-night funeral, tweeted that “America grieves as one of its citizens was brutally murdered by a Palestinian terrorist.”

“Ari Fuld was a passionate defender of Israel & an American patriot. He represented the best of both countries & will be deeply missed. May his family be comforted & his memory be blessed,” Friedman stated.

Emanuele Giaufret, European Union Ambassador to Israel, conveyed his “condolences to the family of the Israeli civilian victim of a stabbing attack.”

“There can be no justification for violence and terror,” he underscored.
Emmanuel Nahshon, Israel’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman said that Fuld “is the latest victim of Palestinian violence and incitement to terror. This is an unacceptable tragedy and we expect world wide condemnation of this horrific act.”

The World Jewish Congress condemned the attack “in the strongest terms possible.”

“The World Jewish Congress unequivocally condemns the brutal and heinous act of terror that took place today in Gush Etzion,” WJC CEO and Executive Vice President Robert Singer said. “We send our deepest condolences to the family of the victim, Ari Fuld, a father of four and defender of Israel, whose life was cut short in violence and hatred, as he heroically confronted his attacker, saving the lives of other innocent bystanders.”

“It is incumbent upon the international community to speak out loudly against this aggression,” Singer added. “We demand that the Palestinian Authority take immediate and harsh measures to curb the incitement that led to this attack, bring the perpetrator to justice, and make it clear that terrorism cannot and will not be tolerated.”

WJC-Israel Chairman, Gad Ariely, who knew Fuld personally, said “the whole House of Israel and decent people everywhere are deeply saddened by the killing of a pillar of the community. This outrage committed during the holiest period of the Jewish calendar will not weaken our resolve to stand strong in the face of terror. May the memory of Ari’s courage and devotion be a blessing that will always inspire us.”

Ideological opponenets also expressed sorrow on the murder of Fuld.

The left-wing J Street issued a statement saying it was “horrified by this attack and deeply saddened by the murder of Ari Fuld, an American-Israeli activist and father of four. There can never be any excuse for this kind of violence. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and community.”

Yariv Oppenheimer, the director of Peace Now who was often Fuld’s opponent on ILTV’s Frenemies debates, tweeted that he was “in total shock, sad and upset, also on a personal level.”
“A true ideologue, a believer in his way. I feel so sad for him and his family,” Oppenheimer added.

Uri Zaki, founder of The Front for the Protection of Democracy, who also participated in heated political debates with Fuld on Frenemies, said he was “overwhelmed and pained by the abominable murder of my friend Ari Fuld.”

“There was an ideological chasm between us, but we left it to the screen. My sincere condolences to his family,” he stated.