TEL AVIV – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday condemned the “horrible Islamist attack” in New York and sent his condolences to the victims and their families before pledging to help “defeat the scourge.”
“To President [Donald] Trump, Governor [Andrew] Cuomo and Mayor [Bill] de Blasio: We stand with our friends in New York and all Americans following yet another horrible Islamist terror attack. We pray for the victims and their families. Together we will defeat this scourge,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
A 29-year-old Uzbek national ploughed a pickup truck into a bicycle path near the World Trade Center, mowing down bicyclists and pedestrians. The suspect, identified as Sayfullo Saipov, left a note in the truck saying the attack was in the name of the Islamic State terror group. An NYPD official told NBC News that the Arabic-language note included the sentence, “The Islamic State lives forever.”
Five Argentinian men were among the victims, including Jewish businessman Ariel Erlij.
President Reuven Rivlin took to Twitter to send his condolences: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of New York. Israel and the USA stand shoulder to shoulder in the fight against terror.”
Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon told his American counterpart Nikki Haley: “Just as the US has always stood by our side in our times of need, Israel will always stand with America in the fight against terror. We send our condolences to the families of those killed and we wish a speedy recovery to those injured.”
The Israeli embassy in Washington, DC posted on Facebook, “Israel stands with the people of New York City today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the attack and their families.”