Sen. Cruz Issues Statement on Palestinian Terrorist Attack in Israel

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement in response to the horrific murder of a 13-year-old American girl at her home in Israel at the hands of a Palestinian terrorist: 

“Early Thursday morning, a Palestinian terrorist broke into the home of a family in Kiryat Arba. He stabbed to death a 13-year-old innocent girl named Hallel Yaffa Ariel, a U.S. citizen, who was sleeping in her bed. The terrorist also wounded a 31-year-old security guard,” Sen. Cruz said.

“It is time for the United States to hold the Palestinian leadership accountable for their continuous incitement of these attacks and for sustaining a culture of hatred where the murder of Jews is celebrated, where terrorists are glorified and praised as ‘martyrs,’ and where jailed terrorists and their families are given monthly salaries as a reward for their atrocities.

“This attack, just like the attack in the Orlando nightclub, was not random violent extremism. It was the same radical Islamic terrorism that has been targeting innocents from San Bernardino to Brussels. We have to identify it clearly, develop an effective strategy to fight it, and partner with our allies to put an end to it.

“My thoughts and prayers are with Israel and the victims’ families.”

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