Netanyahu: The people of Israel grieve with the American people

Netanyahu: The people of Israel grieve with the American people

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other high-ranking Israeli officials on Wednesday condemned the assassination of the U.S. ambassador and three other embassy staff members in Libya by protesters angry over a film that ridiculed Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.

Ambassador Chris Stevens was killed Tuesday night when he and a group of embassy employees went to the consulate to try to evacuate staff. The protesters were firing gunshots and rocket-propelled grenades.

„Today we were informed of the tragic murder of the American ambassador in Libya and the murder of three consulate workers in the American consulate in Benghazi. The people of Israel grieve with the American people; we send our condolences to the families,” Netanyahu said in an official statement. „If there’s any people in the world that understands what Americans are going through, what they went through on 9/11, it’s the people of Israel, who’ve been standing at the forefront of the battle against terrorism, who’ve lost loved ones and who deeply, deeply sympathize with the people of America at this time.”

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi as well as the violent protests outside the U.S. Embassy in Cairo „evil terrorist attacks” directed at the West and the entire democratic world.

„The U.S., which is the leader of the free world, has long stood in the firing line of radical Islamist terrorism,” an official Foreign Ministry statement said. “The fact that these attacks took place exactly 11 years after the 9/11 attacks proves that this is a long and difficult battle against those who believe in sowing death and destruction, and only their excuse changes every time. The rioters who attacked the American diplomatic missions are people who want to impose their views and beliefs at any price, and for them the ideals of freedom of speech and freedom of conscience are concepts that are to be removed from this world together will all Western culture. The State of Israel shares in the grief of the American people on the tragic deaths of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and the other embassy staff.”

The statement added that Lieberman stood by the U.S. in the fight against terrorism.

President Shimon Peres also condemned the attack and sent a special letter of condolence to U.S. President Barack Obama.

„I was deeply shocked by the sad news of today’s brutal attack on the American Consulate in Benghazi. The loss of four American lives, among them Ambassador Christopher Stevens, is a pain which is shared by your friends around the world,” Peres wrote.

„By upholding America’s values of freedom and democracy, Ambassador Stevens and his team have brought honor to the cause which they served until the very last moment. This admirable dedication only strengthens Israel’s esteem for America’s enduring commitment to spreading peace and security around the world. On behalf of the people of Israel and myself, I extend to Your Excellency, the families of the victims, and the people of the United States of America, our heartfelt condolences.”

The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that the film that sparked the protests, titled „Innocence of Muslims,” was directed by a California real estate developer who identified himself as an Israeli Jew and said he believed the movie would help his native land by exposing Islam’s flaws to the world.

However, on Thursday, a new report by AP said it appeared that the man behind the provocative film was not an Israeli Jew, but a Coptic Christian from California.