The second-in-command for Hezbollah and a senior Iranian official both praised the murder of seven Israeli civilians outside a synagogue in Jerusalem on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, with the Hezbollah official expressing hope for the destruction of Israel. However, the United Arab Emirates voiced strong condemnation of the attack, publicly signaling support for Israel at this difficult time.
Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naeem Qasim was explicit in his endorsement of the massacre in a post in Arabic to Twitter on Saturday—as well as his disturbing dreams for the future.
“We support and bless the qualitative Jerusalem operation, in response to the Zionists’ criminality and occupation. The future is for a liberated Palestine with this brave and struggling people. The hour of demise for Israel is approaching.. Isn’t the morning near?!” tweeted Qasim, according to a Google translation of the post.
Over in Algeria, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf “lauded” the Palestinian terror attack according to a Sunday report by the Iranian Fars News Agency. Speaking with Speaker of the People’s National Assembly of Algeria Ibrahim Boughali at the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States, Qalibaf said in reference to the Jerusaelm violence that the Palestinians have given Israel a “great lesson these days.”
Seven Israelis, including a 14-year-old, were shot and killed in the attack on Friday evening, which begins the weekly Sabbath holy day. According to the Israeli Police Twitter page, the Palestinian shooter fled the scene but was intercepted by Israeli police. In an ensuing gunfight with security forces, the terrorist was killed.
Condemnations of the terrorism came in from around the world, including prominent Arab nations. The United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Ministry, in a statement posted to their website, called the attack “heinous”. The UAE statement expressed their “strong condemnation of these criminal acts, and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of human values and principles.”
The UAE, which signed a peace deal with Israel in 2020, also voiced their “sincere condolences and sympathy to the government of Israel and its people, and to the families of the victims of this heinous crime, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured.”
The UAE was not alone in opposing the act of terrorism. Saudi Arabia, in an Arabic post to their Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, was less forceful in their comments warning against escalation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Nonetheless, it said the Kingdom “condemns every targeting of civilians,” according to a translation by Google.
Support from the UAE and others was not unnoticed in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in comments released by his office, expressed gratitude, saying he thanks the many leaders, “including from Arab countries, for standing alongside Israel at this time. We are all praying for the wellbeing of those who were wounded in the two attacks.
Netanyahu also addressed the future, “While we are not seeking escalation, we are prepared for any scenario.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, January 29, 2023)