WASHINGTON, DC—Representative Eliot L. Engel, the leading Democrat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding the terrorist attack in a Jerusalem synagogue:

“I'm outraged by today's brutal terrorist attack in Jerusalem, which took the lives of four people including three Americans. My heart goes out to their families.

“Once again, an act of terrorism hits home for our community; one of the victims had family in Riverdale. They are my constituents and my friends, and they have been forced to bury a lost loved one. No family anywhere should have to endure such a tragedy.

“Murdering innocents and using terrorism as a political tool will never succeed in bringing about a Palestinian state. Killing worshipers at prayer is an inhuman act for which there can never be a justification.

“This attack underscores the grave challenges to the peace process. How can Israel make peace when its citizens are slaughtered in holy places? How can Israel negotiate with a partner whose leaders incite this sort of violence? When Palestinian leaders should be denouncing violence, we hear instead calls for 'days of rage.' Rather than condemning these cowardly acts, Hamas leaders are celebrating in the streets.

This must stop.

“A Palestinian state will never be born on the backs of terror victims.”

###