Sympathy. Netanyahu
Photo: GPO
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Gay and Lesbian Association in Tel Aviv Thursday, as well as the scene of the brutal shooting attack which took place Saturday, at a city gay youth center.
Nir Katz (26) and Liz Trubeshi (16) were killed and 10 injured in the attack. The assailant is still at large.
"Any murder is horrific, but this is twice so. The idea that someone just walked into a youth center and embarked on a killing spree – it's like a terror attack," said the prime minister.
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At the scene of the shooting, the prime minister met with prominent community activists as well as some of the victims.
Joining Netanyahu on his visit were Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen and Tel Aviv District Police Commander General Shahar Ayalon.
"This is a great tragedy," said Netanyahu. "I would like to send my condolences to Liz and Nir's parents and my hope for a speedy recovery for the injured. We will take care of them.
"My coming here," he added, "Is meant to express certain values. I believed that tagging people is wrong. We were all created in God's image, we all have basic rights and our first and foremost right is to be respected by others and to respect others.
"Unfounded hatred is wrong… and we have to uproot it from society as best we can. Israeli society has made progress when in comes to tolerance and I'm sure we can propel it further."