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World leaders condemn Tel Aviv terror attack

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Leading figures from across the international community have unequivocally condemned the recent terror attack in Tel Aviv, in which two Palestinian gunmen opened fire in a busy restaurant, killing four Israelis.

In a rare show of unanimity on violence directed at Israelis, the 15 member states of the United Nations’ (UN) Security Council all approved a motion which called for those responsible for “these reprehensible acts of terrorism” to be brought to justice. The Council “reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable”.

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon praised the “important and moral statement,” noting that it was the first time that the UN Security Council had described an attack during the current wave of violence as “terrorism.”

Prime Minister David Cameron said via social media that he was “sickened by the appalling attack in Tel Aviv.” He added: “We stand with Israel against terrorism.” Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond condemned the attack as “cowardly”.

A statement from the US State Department said: “The United States condemns today’s horrific terrorist attack in Tel Aviv in the strongest possible terms.”

State Department spokesman Mark Toner added: “These cowardly attacks against innocent civilians can never be justified.” He also urged Israel to show restraint in its response to the shooting.

France’s President Francois Hollande condemned “with the greatest strength the odious attack” and pledged “support for Israel in the fight against terrorism”. Meanwhile, Canada’s Foreign Ministry said it was “shocked” by the terror attack.

Yesterday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the “unequivocal condemnations from the world’s leading capitals of this murderous, heinous act”. However, he noted “I didn’t hear of such a condemnation from the Palestinian Authority (PA)”. The PA issued a statement which did not mention the Tel Aviv attack specifically, but instead said that it “reaffirms its rejection of all operations that target civilians from any background regardless of the justifications.”

A total of 38 people, including 35 Israelis, have been killed in a wave of terror attacks by Palestinians since October, and 453 have been wounded.