Press Advisories

1. 7. 2014 19:12

Statement of Prime Minister Sobotka on Tragic Death of Israeli Students

I was greatly saddened by the death of three Israeli students who were kidnapped from the West Bank on 12 June 2014. For close to three weeks, we had witnessed the progress of a search for the three youngsters, worried about their fate, and hoped that they would be brought back home. I am now shocked to learn that the boys have been cold-bloodedly murdered.
I resolutely condemn this criminal act that can be neither justified by nor correlated to any political aims whatsoever. I have sent the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu a letter of condolences in which I asked him on behalf of the Czech government to express our deepest sorrow to families of the murdered youngsters.
I trust that those responsible will be found soon and will be forced to face justice. At the same time, the response to this crime must be adequate and that the real culprits must be found. It would be tragic if this heinous crime resulted in further escalation of violence in the Middle East, causing hardship to innocent people.
The Czech Republic makes long-term efforts to facilitate a peaceful settlement between Israel and Palestine, which will rely on the principle of two democratic states coexisting in peace and security. The murderers of Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar, and Eyal Yifrach have attempted to thwart this endeavor. It is at this difficult time that both sides must work together to apprehend those behind this abominable crime, while refraining from actions liable to jeopardize the future progress of the peace process.

Bohuslav Sobotka, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic

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