The European Union has condemned the recent attacks in both Jerusalem and northern Sinai. On Sunday (8 September), a truck rammed into a crowd of people getting off a bus in Jerusalem, killing 4 and injuring 17. The Israeli police called the incident an act of terrorism. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the scene of the attack and said the perpetrator was “by all indications a supporter of the Islamic State.” Mr Netenyahu further said that “this is part of the same pattern inspired by Islamic State, by ISIS, that we saw first in France, then in Germany and now in Jerusalem,” and stressed that “this is part of the same ongoing battle against this global scourge of the new terrorism.”
The EU has released an official condemnation of “the murder of the four young Israelis, as well as any praise or incitement for terrorist acts.“ The statement further read “We extend our sincere condolences to the families of the victims and hope that those injured will make a full recovery. There can be no justification for such a crime: the EU will continue to work with those who seek peace and denounce those who pursue violence and terror.“
Only a day later (9 January), the EU condemned another terrorist attack – also using a truck – in northern Sinai, which killed at least 10 people and injured 22. The EU said the attack was a tragic reminder of the continuing terrorist threat to Egypt and expressed its condolences to the Egyptian authorities, the victims and their families. Brussels also reiterated that it stands side by side with Egypt in its fight against terrorism.
