This week's cabinet meeting began on a somber note as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned a brutal stabbing at the home of a rabbi in Monsey, New York, on Saturday.
"Israel strongly condemns the recent displays of anti-Semitism, including the vicious attack at the home of a rabbi ... during Hanukkah," Netanyahu said.
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"We send our best wishes for recovery to the wounded. We will cooperate however possible with the local authorities in order to assist in defeating this phenomenon. We offer our assistance to every country," the prime minister added.
According to CBS New York, the assailant reportedly used a machete to attack people attending a Hanukkah lighting celebration at hassidic Rabbi Chaim Rottenberg's home, which also functions as the Netzach Yisroel synagogue.
Two people were said to be in critical condition, with one of them stabbed at least six times, and three others were moderately wounded.
According to local media reports, the assailant was apprehended in Harlem early Sunday morning after a short manhunt.
Video from the scene pic.twitter.com/anPwVW1Jhv
— Jacob Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) December 29, 2019
The Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council for the Hudson Valley region tweeted, "At 9:50 [EST] this eve, a call came in about a mass stabbing at 47 Forshay Road in Monsey (Rockland County; 30 miles North of NYC). It's the house of a Hasidic Rabbi. 5 patients with stab wounds, all Hasidic, were transported to local hospitals," it said on Twitter.
The council said the assailant was an African American male, his face partially masked with a scarf.
We are closely monitoring the reports of multiple people stabbed at a synagogue in Monsey, NY (Rockland County) pic.twitter.com/cHoQnbneKO
— NYPDCounterterrorism (@NYPDCT) December 29, 2019
Clips circulated on social media show ambulances and security personnel rushing to the site.
Investigators cordoned off the large home on Forshay Road with yellow crime scene tape as of 3 a.m. Onlookers gathered nearby and watched as officers collected evidence and worked to determine what occurred hours earlier. A number of police and emergency vehicles also remained at the scene.
The incident follows a string of anti-Semitic assaults in New York, including on Friday morning, when three young Jewish women were attacked in Brooklyn.
"I am horrified by the stabbing of multiple people at a synagogue in Rockland County tonight," Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo tweeted. "We have zero-tolerance for anti-Semitism in NY and we will hold the attacker accountable to the fullest extent of the law. NY stands with the Jewish community."
I am horrified by the stabbing of multiple people at a synagogue in Rockland County tonight.
We have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism in NY and we will hold the attacker accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
NY stands with the Jewish community. pic.twitter.com/JILUoFXJc9
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) December 29, 2019
Cuomo, who called the stabbings a "cowardly act" has directed the state police hate crimes task force to investigate the attacks.
"Let me be clear: anti-Semitism and bigotry of any kind are repugnant to our values of inclusion and diversity and we have absolutely zero tolerance for such acts of hate," he said in a statement. "In New York we will always stand up and say with one voice to anyone who wishes to divide and spread fear: you do not represent New York and your actions will not go unpunished."
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin also condemned the attack on Twitter saying a collective effort is needed to stop future incidents.
"Shocked and outraged by the terrible attack in #NY and praying for the recovery of those injured. #Antisemitism is not just a #Jewish problem, and certainly not just the State of #Israel's problem," he tweeted. "We must work together to confront this rising evil, which is a real global threat."
Officials with the Simon Wiesenthal Center called on US President Donald Trump to instruct the FBI to create a special task force in wake of unending attacks against Jews and their religious institutions.
Rabbis Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper, Dean and Founder and Associate Dean of the leading Jewish Human Rights NGO are also urging Black leaders to speak out against the spate of recent hate crimes in New York and New Jersey carried out by African Americans.
"Enough is enough! Jews should not have to fear for their lives in America to go to their houses of worship. The FBI must step up and take the lead in all recent violent hate crimes targeting religious Jews."
New York Attorney General, Letitia James, said she was "deeply disturbed" by the situation in Monsey. "There is zero tolerance for acts of hate of any kind and we will continue to monitor this horrific situation."
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday that police presence would increase in Brooklyn neighborhoods with large Jewish populations.
Vice Chairman of the World Zionist Organization and Commissioner for Combating Anti-Semitism at the National Institutions in Israel Yaakov Hagoel issued a statement saying, "I am appalled to see Jews brutally harmed in the synagogue as a place of prayer, just because they are Jews. I demand from the US government to protect Jews, pass strict laws to combat anti-Semitism, enforce existing anti-xenophobia legislation and, most importantly, implement anti-hate programs in all schools. We must show zero tolerance for any anti-Semitic incident."
