As Hundreds of Missiles Target Israel, Simon Wiesenthal Center Condemns Linda Sarsour and BLM

May 11, 2021

Los Angeles, CA – In response to the barrage of Hamas missiles fired at Israel in the last 24 hours — one every three minutes — and the riots and violence against Israeli Jews, global Jewish human rights organization Simon Wiesenthal Center today released the following statement: 

"We stand with Israel and it's unequivocal right to defend itself against violence by the Palestinian leadership. As more than 700 rockets target Israel and Jews are attacked on the streets of Holy Land, Israel must do what every other nation would do to safeguard its citizens. They should not succumb to political theater and social media screeds that demonize Israelis, while people like Linda Sarsour bestow a moral blank check on genocide-seeking Hamas.

"We further condemn the lurid statement by BLM leader Shaun King for posting a video and statement that turns the truth on its head. The fire next to al Aqsa was set by Palestinian terrorists, not Israelis. Young Israelis were celebrating at a festival next to Western Wall below, unconnected to the Muslim site.

"We urge everyone who truly cares about peace in the Holy Land to loudly condemn the genocidal Hamas that uses its civilians as cannon fodder and human shields.”

For further information contact the Center’s Communications department at pressinquiries@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).