March 1, 2005

In the wake of the tragic suicide bombing in Tel Aviv late last week, that killed five Israelis and wounded many others, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom commends the Israeli government’s decision to respond with diplomatic rather than military means.

“We welcome Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s restraint in the face of this terrible act,” says Marcia Freedman, president of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom. “The prime minister’s diplomatic response sends a clear message to the few extremist who seek to up-end the ceasefire between Israelis and Palestinians that they will not succeed.”

Freedman also pointed to the unequivocal condemnation of the suicide attack by the new Palestinian leadership and expressed hope that both sides will not allow extremists to derail efforts to negotiate an end to this conflict.

Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, is a national organization of American Jews 25,000 strong, which is deeply committed to Israel’s well being through the achievement of a negotiated settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.