Israeli president sends condolence letter to Turkey in wake of attack

Marcy Oster

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli President Reuven Rivlin sent a letter of condolence to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan following the terror attack that has killed at least 41 and injured more than 230.

Three suicide bombers opened fire on passengers in the international terminal at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul on Tuesday night before detonating themselves. The attack came hours after Israel and Turkey signed a reconciliation deal ending a six-year break in diplomatic relations.

“This cowardly, murderous act is an example of the most vitriolic hatred the like of which we are sadly seeing across our region and the entire world today. I take this opportunity to welcome the chance to renew our good relationship especially because our strengthened dialogue will greatly aid in our joint efforts against this threat, and because it sends a strong message to the terrorists that we will stand untied against hatred,” Rivlin wrote in the letter sent on Wednesday, in which he also offered Israeli assistance in recovering from the attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement condemning the attack.

“Israel strongly condemns yesterday’s terrorist attack in Istanbul. All civilized nations must stand together to fight the scourge of terrorism,” the statement said.

Israeli diplomats who were at the airport at the time of the Tuesday night attack were unharmed. Israeli diplomats said that no Israeli tourists were among the victims taken to the hospital.

At least one Palestinian was confirmed killed and seven Palestinians injured in the attack. Among the other foreign nationals killed were people from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, China, Iran, Ukraine and Jordan, according to reports.

Israel’s embassy in Ankara condemned the attack and extended its condolences on Wednesday.

Though no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Turkish officials have said that the attack appears to have been mounted by the Islamic State.

The airport, the third busiest in Europe, was up and running by Wednesday morning.

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