Washington – A 13-year-old Israeli girl fatally stabbed in her bedroom in Kiryat Arba on Thursday was a US citizen, the US State Department said.
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The girl, Hallel Yaffa Ariel, was attacked after a Palestinian terrorist climbed a security fence and entered a home in the settlement of Kiryat Arba, near Hebron.
“We have now confirmed that she is a US citizen,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said at a news briefing.
Earlier today, the State Department condemned “in the strongest terms the outrageous terrorist attack” in the West Bank, calling the stabbing “unconscionable.”
Netanyahu, in a statement, called on Palestinian leaders to condemn the attack and take immediate steps to stop what he described as incitement that Israel has cited as a main factor behind a string of assaults over the last nine months.
“The horrific murder of an innocent girl in her bed sheds light on the bloodlust and lack of humanity displayed by the terrorists we are facing,” he said.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas did not comment on the attack. He has spoken out against violence in the past, though Israeli officials say his apologies have been half-hearted and at times he has made comments amounting to incitement.
Abbas faced criticism earlier this month after he repeated an unsubstantiated claim of a plot by Israeli rabbis to call on Jews to poison Palestinian wells. He later disavowed his comments.
Obama was quick to say negative words against Israel in the past, now he is quiet! The name Hussain is really compatible with him. But I should believe him what he says Israel Iz the closest Ally to America
Her parents are not innocent in this terrible murder. Why do they bring their children into a war zone?! Just to do their part for a “Greater Israel”. The true torah leaders – Rav Shach, Rav Shlomo Zalmen, Rav Elyashiv, the Steipler, the Satmerer and so many others warned against this type of behavior. This girl should be alive and well right now in the US or somewhere safe. But her parents were willing to offer her up on the altar of Tzvi Yehuda Kook’s misguided torah of kibush ha’aretz. So sad that innocent children have to suffer so terribly for the foolishness of the parents.
Yes, Mr. Obama, you told us who could be your son. Well we are telling you who could be OUR DAUGHTER.
Are you guys really so dumb? The State Department speaks for the president. When terrorists killed Israelis during the George W. BUSH years, a State Department spokesman would issue a condemnation.
The palestinian officials who talk about stabbing and killing jews are all liable for the death penalty ,and should be ‘eliminated’