President Peres spoke this morning with Mr. Maurice Sosnowski of the Belgian Jewish Community following the fatal shooting attack on Shabbos.

President Shimon Peres on Sunday morning 25 Iyar spoke with Mr. Maurice Sosnowski and expressed his condolences to the community, “We are with you in this difficult time. We share your sense of shock and profound sadness. If there is anything that we can do, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. Our heart is with you, the families and the community. Please convey my condolences to the entire community.”

Mr. Sosnowski thanked President Peres and, at the request of the president, updated him on the latest details. He told President Peres that, “The museum is the only Jewish center not protected as it is not exclusively a Jewish community building and so it was an easy target. This was a pre-planned attack; it wasn’t something that could be improvised. The victims were shot at the entrance to the museum. It seems that there were one or two shooters; the modus operandi reminds us of the shooting in Toulouse.” Mr. Sosnowski added that there is a great deal of worry within the community in Belgium and across Europe. He continued and said, “Security has been increased to the highest level at all Jewish centers. The local authorities are putting all efforts into solving this case.

President Peres called upon European leaders to take action against any form of anti-Semitism and said, “We must act without hesitation against any form of anti-Semitism. The leaders of Europe should lead the struggle against anti-Semitism, which is rearing its head across the continent.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)