The Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) was heartbroken to learn of the murder of sixteen year old Mohammed Abu Khdeir, and affirms the unequivocal condemnation of this act by international leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ambassador Ron Dermer and Secretary of State John Kerry.
Jewish tradition teaches us that all human beings are created b’tzelem Elohim – in the image of G-d – and all people should be treated as such. We condemn this senseless act of violence against yet another child as despicable and inhumane.
We commend the Israeli Police for the swift arrests of the suspects, and agree with Prime Minister Netanyahu that the suspects should be “dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.”
We deeply regret that this event may further isolate Arabs and Israelis from each other, and exacerbate an already difficult situation. We do not need more violence. We need more peace.
We stand side by side with all people of good will – Arab and Jew, Israeli, Palestinian, and American – in mourning all victims of barbarity and terrorism.