Terrorists Behind Mumbai Massacre Should Be Brought to Justice, Says Knesset Speaker in India

Jerusalem, 4 April, 2023 (TPS) -- Mumbai (Mahrashtra) [India] April 4 (ANI)
Israeli Knesset speaker Amir Ohana has said terrorists involved in the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai should be brought to justice. Ohana made the remarks during a visit to the Nariman House in Mumbai on Tuesday to pay tribute to the victims of the attack.

“Everyone who took part in this terrible terror attack should be brought to justice. This is a major part of counter-terrorism. So, first we need to prevent. But once we didn’t succeed to prevent, everyone needs to be brought to justice. And this is our expectation, and I think it is the vast majority of the Indian people’s expectation,” Ohana said.

He added, “Visiting this place, there are two issues that are very, very close to my heart. One is Chabad, which symbolizes the love of mankind and the bridges between us. And the second is Counter-terrorism, which I spent over twelve years of my life, both in the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency. Terror, as we all know, does not differentiate between religions, between races.”

During the Mumbai massacre of 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba terror group killed 164 people and injured more than 300 during a four-day period.

Among the targets was the Nariman House, a Jewish outreach center also known as the Chabad House, where Rabbi Gabi Holtzman and his wife, Rivky were killed. Their son Moshe, who was two, survived the attack, protected by his nanny, Sandra Samuels.

Ohana stressed terrorism is exactly opposite to what Chabad symbolizes, which is building bridges and connecting people. Ohana said, “It is exactly the opposite of what Chabad symbolizes building bridges and connecting people. We have yet to conclude this terror event because still we are waiting for those who sent the terrorists to be brought to justice, the perpetrators.”

He added, “And we just visited Moshe’s room, who was two years old when this event took place. And we saw the wall that represents his height when he was eleven months old, and then later on, when he was, what, 11 years of age, and someone wrote there three words that someone was and still is the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. And those three words are Hum Israel Hai – the people of Israel lives.”

Ohana said Moshe wrote the same words when he visited Wannsee, Germany, where the Nazi conference planning out the Final Solution for the Jewish people took place. He said, “This is our message, I think, from here to the world. Am Yisrael Hai – the people of Israel lives. And we are combined together.” He said that Jews in India never experienced hatred and anti-semitism and called it “very unique.”

He said that the people of India and Israel have a rich history and added that the nations are trailblazers when it comes to technology.

“Israelis are actually Jews being living here for centuries, never experienced hatred, never experienced antisemitism. This is something very unique. This is something we don’t see much in the world, and for many reasons, but those amongst them, my decision as to where would my first visit as speaker of the Knesset would be, was this. It is very, very impressive. People with very rich history, actually both nations with rich histories, with great respect for their traditions, but yet trailblazers when it comes to high tech and technologies and innovation. So we have a rich past, but we look forward to the future,” Ohana said.

Ohana was also honored with ringing the bell at India’s National Stock Exchange.

Before visiting Mumbai,  Ohana and his parliamentary delegation met with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday. The two sides discussed strengthening India-Israel ties and promoting cooperation in I2U2, a grouping of India, Israel, the United States and the United Arab Emirates to cooperate on joint investments and initiatives in water, energy, transportation and other issues.

Ohana also met with Om Birla, speaker of the Lok Sabha or India’s lower house of parliament. The two signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation and exchange of knowledge between the Israeli and Indian parliaments.