Media Releases

AIJAC is deeply concerned for the welfare of the three Israeli teenagers – Eyal Yifrah, Gil-Ad Shaer, and Naftali Frenkel who were kidnapped in the West Bank on June 12 by Palestinian terrorists, and calls for their immediate release.

AIJAC’s Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein said, “Together with Israelis, and all people of good will, our thoughts and prayers are with the kidnapped boys and their families, and we hope for their safe and immediate return.

“We note that Israel and the United States suspect Hamas is behind the kidnapping, the same Hamas that recently formed a unity government with the Palestinian Authority, despite the fact that Hamas is a terrorist organisation committed to Israel’s destruction and has killed hundreds of Israeli civilians in rocket and terrorist attacks.”

He added, “It is deplorable that Hamas continues to call for the abduction of Israelis and is reported to have celebrated this latest kidnapping. This only underlines the extent to which the latest Fatah-Hamas unity agreement constitutes both a blow to peace hopes and a danger to security.”

Communal prayers for the safe return of the teenagers will be held tonight in Melbourne at Caulfield Shule at 7.45pm, and in Sydney at Moriah College at 7pm.