EILAT: Indians In Israel Remember 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack Victims

EILAT: Indians in Israel commemorated
the victims of killings by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in the 26/11 Mumbai
attacks of 2008, demanding swift justice by punishing the masterminds of the
crime and seeking coordinated efforts to tackle the menace of terror, on the
eve of the 13th anniversary of the deadly attacks.

Indian
students at all the leading institutions in Israel, members of the Indian
Jewish community, and Indians living and working in Israel organised separate
events across the country on the eve of the anniversary of 26/11 on Thursday,
paying respects to the innocent victims of the terror attack, including six
Jews who died at the Chabad House. Several events are also planned for today.

Isaac
Solomon, 84, an Indian Jewish community leader in the southern coastal city of
Eilat at an event organised at the club Sitar told the gathering that both
India and Israel have been at the receiving end of terror even though both the
countries seek peace with their neighbours, as well as internationally.

“The
terrorists do not really have a real objective. They have only one goal – to
harm people. India and Israel are democracies that seek peace and will continue
to raise their voice against the menace of terrorism anywhere in the
world,” Solomon said.

Eilat
Deputy Mayor Stas Bilkin also participated in the event in solidarity with
victims of the attacks.

Jewish
outreach movement, Chabad, last year unveiled a plaque in the city in the
memory of the six Jewish victims of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

“To
the memory and rise of souls of Rabbi Gavriel Noah and Rivka Holtsberg, who
were martyred during the time of their holy mission in a terror attack at
Chabad house in Mumbai, India from which the message of Torah was being spread
all over the area. And for the four guests who stayed in Chabad house at the
time of the attack, and were also martyred: Rabi Gavriel Taitelbaum, Mrs. Norma
Rabinovich, Rabi Ben Zion Kurman, Mrs, Yocheved Orpaz. May their souls be bound
up in the bond of eternal life”, the plaque in Hebrew reads.

Ceremonies
were also held at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University,
Ben-Gurion University and Technion in Haifa with a large number of Indian
students turning up to participate while observing COVID-19 norms.

“It
is a shame that the real masterminds of the attack roam around freely while the
families of the victims await justice. All peace seeking nations must unite in
their resolve to defeat terror and their state sponsors. 26/11 is a shared pain
between India and Israel and we must do everything to bring the perpetrators to
justice,” said Ankit Chauhan, a researcher at Ben-Gurion University.

“On
this day, we remember the tragic loss of human life during the 26/11 attacks in
Mumbai. Through the candles we light in this vigil, we pay homage to all the
innocent souls that were victims of blind rage and terror. The candles that we
lit today also symbolise the everlasting hope in humanity that each of us share
for working together towards a future that is safer and harmonious for the
generations to come,” Trivikram Muralidharan, a PhD student in the
department of industrial engineering and management at Ben-Gurion University,
told PTI.

Some of
the participants also recounted the valiant efforts of the Indian soldiers in
dealing with the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008.

“Remembering
the heroes who gave up their lives for our safety on this day, 13 years ago. I
salute their spirit and bravery. Let’s never forget their sacrifice. We will
forever be indebted to our bravehearts for their supreme sacrifice,” said
Ajay Wagh, a postdoctoral fellow at the Technion in the northern coastal city
of Haifa.

Degel
Menashe, an organisation representing the Bnei Menashe Jewish community that
has connections with India’s north-eastern states of Manipur and Mizoram,
condemned the attacks calling it a “cowardly” act on unarmed innocent
people.

Members
of the organisation organised protests also in Churachandpur holding placards
reading, “no to terrorism”, “we stand by all the victims of
26/11 attacks” etc.

Several
groups of Indians living and working in Israel have planned events to pay
respects to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks on Friday.

“We
will pay our respects to 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack victims tomorrow. We are
Indian caregivers preparing to hold a gathering on the 13th anniversary of the
Mumbai attacks lighting candles. We condemn Pakistan sponsored terrorism.
Peaceful countries should come together to boycott diplomatically and
financially those countries that support terrorism”, said Ravi Soma,
President of Israel Telengana Association.

A march
will be held in the memory of the 26/11 victims at the St. Peters Church,
Jaffa, and organisations of Indians from Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab and Gujarat
will also be separately holding candle vigil on Friday to mark the 13th
anniversary of the deadly attacks.

The
Indian Jewish Heritage Centre and The Cochin Heritage Centre have organised a
Zoom conference on Friday to mark the occasion.

People
participating in such gatherings held posters of victims, pictures of mayhem in
Mumbai and flags of India and Israel.

The 26/11
attack by 10 heavily-armed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists killed 166 people
and injured more than 300.

The
terrorists launched coordinated shooting and bombing attacks at several
landmarks in Mumbai, including the Chabad House at Nariman point where six Jews
were killed in the attack.