Midweek Update - the sad fate of Gilad, Naftali and Eyal

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30th June 2014

I am furious, sad, brokenhearted and filled with despair. I don't understand how or why the terrorists made the coldhearted decision to dress up as religious Jews and offer a lift to three young hitch-hikers, children really, and kill them within a short time leaving the families to believe there was a chance they were still alive. The captors had prepared their homes - carefully stocking up on food and generously doling out their substantial property to family members. These were not poor downtrodden refugees, these were well shod killers.

They didn't want a ransom, all they wanted was to terrorise, to kill children because they were Jews. To say they killed in cold blood is not true, they killed them as a result of carefully nurtured hatred of such magnitude that we cannot even begin to absorb it.

Right now if anyone, but anyone is stupid enough to suggest that it was because they were "settlers"I would not be responsible for the language of my response. First of all they were not, but even if they were it was not the issue - the purpose was to kill Jews, any Jews, and to ensure that the entire country would be weakened and in mourning. It is part of the war of attrition.

The children were found close to the place they were kidnapped, their captors had just hidden the bodies, abandoned them in a field among the weeds and escaped as only cowards, craven cowards can. 

Thousands of soldiers are still determinedly searching for the perpetrators. They will pay although there is no punishment that will satisfy our pain.

These children, Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frankel, did no harm, threatened no-one, harmed no-one, had their lives stretching out before them. They will not serve their country nor meet and marry their beloved. They will not know the joy of their own children and their parents will never, ever know joy again.

President Peres said:

"All of Israel bows its head today. For 18 days we hoped and prayed with one voice that we would find the boys safe and well. With this bitter news all of Israel mourns their deaths. Along with our deep sense of loss we remain committed to bringing the terrorists to justice. Our resolve in the fight against terror will only strengthen and we will ensure that murderous terrorism of this sort will not dare to rear its head again."

In Gaza they are handing out sweets, laughing and celebrating - may they choke on them. 

Bialik wrote-  Cursed is he who says 'Revenge!' 

Vengeance for the blood of a small child 

Satan has not yet created.

My heart goes out to their families - May their young souls rest in peace Baruch Dayan Emet

Jerusalem is crying tonight