Bronx And City Elected Officials Join In Solidarity And Prayer For Kidnapped Israeli Teens

On Wednesday, religious leaders and elected officials joined in solidarity and prayer with Ambassador Ido Aharoni, Consul General of Israel in New York, the people of Israel and the families of three Israeli teenagers kidnapped near Gush Etzion last week.

The boys were last seen Thursday night while returning home from school at Mekor Chaim Yeshiva. Israeli military forces have intensified their search for the three missing teenagers over the last few days.One of the three teenagers – Naftali Frenkel – is a dual Israeli-American citizen and has family in both Brooklyn and upstate New York.

The teenagers – Gilad Shaar, Eyal Yifrach, and Frenkel  – are believed to have been abducted in a deliberate act of terrorism.

“My thoughts are with the families of the three kidnapped Israeli teens, and I pray that Eyal, Gilad, and Naftali will return home safely and soon. As the parent of two teenagers myself, I’m horrified and heartbroken for these families — no one should have to go through this kind of anguish,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“These three teens were walking home from school, as so many of our children do every day, when they were taken in a despicable act of cowardice. As a father of two young boys of my own, I can’t imagine the heartbreak these families are going through right now,” said Comptroller Scott Stringer. “This kidnapping is an outrageous affront to the diplomatic and peacekeeping efforts in the region. New Yorkers stand with the people of Israel, and leaders around the world, in condemning this act and praying for Gilad, Naftali and Eyal’s safe return.”

“The crime against these young men is a crime against all of us. As a city we must all stand together and speak with one voice in condemnation of this horrendous act and demand their safe return. My sincere thanks to Comptroller Scott Stringer and the JCRC for their swift action on this matter,” said State Senator Jose M. Serrano.

“The kidnapping of three Israeli teens is the latest in a long line of criminal acts against innocent Israeli civilians. Securing their immediate and safe release will be a true test of the sincerity of President Abbas’ claim that he wants peace. I urge the Israeli and U.S. Governments to do everything in their power to make sure these three innocent boys come home safely and quickly and call on the leaders of countries around the world to demand their release as well,” said Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz.

“In the strongest terms, I condemn the kidnapping of these teenagers, and I join all Americans in demanding these nefarious individuals to release these innocent young people to their families safely,” said Assemblymember Victor Pichardo.