For the first time in the ten-month wave of terror, the United Nations spoke out against Palestinian violence. On Thursday night, the UN Security Council condemned the shooting attack in a Tel Aviv restaurant on Wednesday night in which two Arabs from Judea murdered four Israelis. The council statement, “reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable.”
The council also expressed its “deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Israel” and stated that “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.”
They also stressed, “The need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice.”
“Those responsible for these killings should be held accountable, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard,” the Council wrote. “Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.”
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon noted that the council statement was the first official condemnation of terrorism in Israel since the current wave of attacks began during the Jewish holidays ten months ago.
He called the UN statement “an important and moral statement”. He also asked for all countries to condemn, “Palestinian incitement that directly leads to violent terrorism.”
“Today’s attack is sad proof that when the international community refuses to condemn terror against Israelis, the next attack is only a matter of time. Terror in Tel Aviv must be viewed in the same way as terror attacks in Paris or Istanbul,” said Danon.
“The images of carnage resulting from Palestinian terror reached the members of the Security Council,” he said. “We call on all the countries of the world to help end these attacks by strongly opposing the Palestinian incitement that directly leads to violent terrorism.”
“I call upon the Security Council and the secretary-general to severely condemn the murderous terror attack and to demand from the Palestinian leadership to put a stop to hateful things which incite terror,” Danon added.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon made a statement a few hours after the attack, saying, “There is no justification for terrorism nor for the glorification of those who commit such heinous acts.”
