August 4, 2005 – New York – The American Jewish Committee strongly condemned the horrific attack today in the Israeli Arab town of Shfaram by an Israeli Jew.

“Today’s attack on innocent Arabs inside Israel appears to be a product of the incitement by a small minority opposed to the disengagement from Gaza. Their words and actions must be condemned in the harshest language,” said David A. Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee.

The perpetrator, identified as a supporter of the outlawed extremist Kach movement, killed at least four when he opened fire inside a bus in Shfaram, a mixed community of Christians, Druze and Muslims.

“We must raise our voices unequivocally against those who would seek to use violence as a means to undermine Israeli democracy, and threaten the delicate fabric of dialogue and coexistence among all Israelis – Jews, Christians, Druze and Muslims,” said Harris. “Our hearts go out to the families of the victims, and we hope and pray for the full recovery of those injured.”