Two members of the European Parliament from the European Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR), Bastiaan Belder from Holland and Charles Tannock from the UK, issued a statement on the killing of the three Israeli teenagers.
“With great sadness and profound sorrow we learned of the tragic deaths of Eyal Yifrach, Gil-Ad Shaer and Naftali Frenkel who were kidnapped on 12 June. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the three murdered young men, their friends, the State of Israel and the Jewish diaspora. Baruch dayan ha’emet,’’ the statement reads.
The two MEPs said that “such hateful crimes, including the continuous incitement and violence against Israeli citizens, are to be condemned in the strongest possible terms.’’
‘’ We call for the safety and security of the State of Israel and its citizens, and hope that those responsible for this terrible crime are rapidly apprehended and brought to justice.”
With 70 members, the ECR has become the third largest political grouping in the European Parliament after the European People’s Party (EPP-centre-right) and the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D).