The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Hartford, along with our entire community are outraged at the senseless murder of Taylor Force and the many others who were seriously injured in the three separate attacks in Israel. We call upon the entire world community to stand united in condemning these terrorist attacks on innocent civilians whose only "crime" was walking peacefully through the streets of Israel.

Killed in one of these attacks was Taylor Force, a graduate of West Point and a US veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was in Israel as a graduate business student learning about the Israeli business sector and the amazing growth of Israeli start­ups.

A special note of thanks to Vice President Biden, who while visiting Israel issued a strong statement condemning the attacks and affirming the United States continued support of Israel.

We send our deepest condolences to the family of Taylor Force and pray that his memory be for a blessing. Our prayers also go out to all those individuals, including Taylor's wife who were injured in these heinous attacks. May they fully recover and find the strength to see beyond the violence that forever altered their lives and pray that the magic that is Israel erase the horror they experienced.

The following is a statement issued by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs:

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) condemns yesterday's terror attacks in Israel. Three different attacks in the span of a few hours, including a grisly stabbing spree in Jaffa, left one dead and a dozen wounded. Our sympathies go out to all the victims, and we send our condolences to the family of the American victim, Taylor Force, who died as a result of his wounds.

We also thank Vice President Joe Biden, who was in Israel yesterday, for his support for the Jewish state as it has confronted the wave of terror attacks over the last six months. Noting that his family was dining in Jaffa as the attacks were carried out, he also stressed, "Let me say in no uncertain terms: The United States of America condemns these acts and condemns the failure to condemn these acts. This cannot become an accepted modus operandi."

"We call upon Arab leaders to condemn these attacks in no uncertain terms," said David Bernstein, President and CEO of the JCPA. "Such attacks not only hurt Israel and Israelis, they damage long­term prospects for peace and regional stability. They must stop."

The Greater Hartford Jewish Community remains hopeful there will be an end to this violence and that instead of stabbing with knives, we should take a stab at peace.

Sincerely,

Howard

Howard Sovronsky
President & CEO