Interfaith Forum Visits Terror Victims, Condemns Terrorism

Jerusalem, Israel—On July 31, 2015, Jewish extremists torched a Palestinian house, causing the death of an eighteen-month-old Palestinian child. The baby’s parents and four-year-old brother were taken to the hospital in critical condition.

On August 9, a delegation of 12 leaders of the Druze, Muslim, Christian, and Jewish faiths visited the victims’ family in the hospital. The delegation, which was co-organized by the Department of Religious Communities in Israel’s Interior Ministry and the Jerusalem Interfaith Forum, included several senior members of the Forum: Rabbi Edgar Nof; Dr. Ohr Margalit; Fr. Masud Abu Hatoum; and Sheik Dr. Omar Kayal, national inspector in the department.

A representative of the family met the delegation in the hospital. Journalists were also at the hospital and asked about the four-year-old boy’s condition. Representatives of the delegation, including Rabbi Nof and Dr. Margalit, expressed their support for the family and condemned the act of terrorism. Rabbi Nof said he was conveying his support on behalf of many citizens in Israel, as well as UPF members around the world. Dr. Ohr Margalit, who offered condolences on behalf of his community, said that his community is praying for the boy’s recovery.

A report about the visit was published in a local Israeli-Arab newspaper and received many positive responses from readers.