President Rivlin Vows To Fight Terrorism At Funeral Of Israel's Latest Terror Victims

Jerusalem, 15 November, 2015 (TPS) -- Terror victims Rabbi Yaakov Litman and his 18-year-old son Netanel, were both buried at the Har Hamenuchot cemetery in Jerusalem on Saturday night, November 14. On Friday afternoon, both were killed by Palestinian terrorists who opened fire on their vehicle, as they were traveling near the Judean town of Otniel.

“We will defend ourselves with courage, and will stand at the front-line of the global war against fundamental terrorism and its offshoots,” vowed Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin as he spoke at the funeral. “We are not afraid, we do not surrender and we do not retreat.”

During his address at the funeral, Rivlin referred to the sacrifices made by many who have settled the Jewish homeland.

“The cradle of Jewish settlement for generations, has claimed many of our sons and daughters, but this will not weaken us,” Rivlin said. “Even when our blood, the blood of our fathers and sons is spilled, we remember that our roots are planted in this land’s soil,” Rivlin said.

“These events remind us daily, that our presence here cannot be taken for granted, from 1929 right up to 2015,” added Rivlin.

In 1929, local Arabs rioted and massacred 67 Jews in Hebron, causing the whole Jewish community to flee. Only after the Six-Day-War in 1967, did Jews return to Hebron.

President Rivlin also connected the terrorist attack in Otniel to the major terrorist attacks that occurred in Paris over the weekend.

“The scenes of death and bloodshed we have witnessed in Paris, throughout the Middle East, and here in our country, should serve as a warning to us all,” said Rivlin. “Whether in Paris or Hebron, Jerusalem or New York, we must fight a bitter and stubborn struggle against those who massacre innocent people, against those who murder in cold-blood.”

Rivlin also argued against treating one terrorist attack as more important than another. “I do not distinguish between terrorism and terrorism,” stressed Rivlin. “There is no terrorism that is more justified or less justified.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu also expressed his condolences to Noa Litman, wife of Rabbi Yaakov Litman and mother of Netanel Litman.

During the conversation, Noa told Netanyahu that a Red Crescent ambulance had stopped at the scene of the terrorist attack but provided no medical assistance to the victims.

“If things are indeed as they seem to me today, the State of Israel will take appropriate steps against the Red Crescent,” the Prime Minister said in response.

Netanyahu has instructed Israel’s Foreign Ministry to file a formal complaint with the International Red Cross regarding Red Crescent’s apparent refusal to provide medical aid to Friday’s terror victims.