Israel blames media after antisemitic attack on Jewish demonstrators in US

New Straits Times

2 days ago

JERUSALEM: Israel's top diplomat condemned Monday a weekend attack on demonstrators in the United States demanding the release of hostages held in Gaza, alleging it was fuelled by the media.
"Shocked by the terrible antisemitic terror attack targeting Jews in Boulder, Colorado," Gideon Saar wrote on X.
"This is pure Antisemitism, fueled by the blood libels spread in the media," he added, without elaborating.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped US authorities would prosecute "the cold blood perpetrator to the fullest extent of the law."
"The antisemitic attacks around the world are a direct result of blood libels against the Jewish state and people, and this must be stopped," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
The loaded term "blood libel" refers to the antisemitic accusation that Jews used the blood of Christians in religious rituals from the Middle Ages up until the 20th century.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid also denounced Sunday's attack in Colorado.
"We are all horrified by the violent terror attack in Colorado against peaceful protesters who were simply calling for the release of our hostage," he wrote on X.
Several people suffered burns and other injuries Sunday in what the FBI called a "targeted terror attack" against the demonstrators seeking the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas's Oct 7, 2023 attack that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, 57 remain in captivity, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.