Title
Condemning the actions of the terrorists who kidnapped three Israeli teenagers.
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WHEREAS, At 10:00 pm on Thursday, June 12, 2014, three teenage youths left the Gush Etzion yeshiva where they were students and headed for home, but never arrived; and
WHEREAS, The three are Eyal Yifrah, 19, from the village of Elad, who studied at the Shavei Hebron yeshiva; Naftali Frenkel, 16, from the village of Nof Ayalon, who also holds American citizenship; and Gil-Ad Shear, 16, from the village of Talmon, both of whom studied at the Mekor Chaim yeshiva in Kfar Etzion; and
WHEREAS, The Israeli security forces began searching for them on the following morning, Friday, June 13, 2014, and developed the assumption that they were abducted when they hitched a ride at the Gush Etzion junction; and
WHEREAS, On the morning of Friday, June 13, 2014, a burned-out Hyundai was found near the village of Dura (near Hebron), and according to security sources, the vehicle is linked to the abduction. The Israeli security forces initiated a broad search focusing on the Hebron region, which is still ongoing; and
WHEREAS, So far no credible organization has claimed responsibility and the abductors have not contacted anyone in Israel. Two claims of responsibility reported by the media were apparently false; and
WHEREAS, The abduction of the three youths was preceded by dozens of attempted abductions, which were prevented by the Israeli security forces. The attempts were the result of continual Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) incitement to abduct Israelis to secure the release of more Palestinian terrorist operatives from Israeli jails, inspired by Hamas' success of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal, which is regarded as a model. Hamas also simulates the abduction of IDF soldiers in its public displays. Abducting Israelis as bargaining chips enjoys the support of the Palestinian street in the Gaza Strip and in Judea and Samaria as well; and
WHEREAS, According to Israel Security Agency data, since Operation Pillar of Defense (November 2012) there has been an increase in attempts to abduct Israeli civilians and soldiers in Judea and Samaria. The efforts are orchestrated by operatives abroad, operatives in the Gaza Strip and by Palestinian terrorists imprisoned in Israeli jails. Most prominent among the organizations are Hamas, the PIJ and Fatah. Since January 2013, 49 intentions and attempts to abduct Israelis have been discovered and prevented (11 so far in 2014); now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby condemns the actions of the terrorists who kidnapped three Israeli teenagers.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution shall be delivered to the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia evidencing the support of this legislative body.
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