The State of Israel is connected to many of our people by family, friendships and shared history. It is connected to all of us as a democracy in a very troubled area.

The terrorist attacks of this past week are an affront not just to Israelis and the Jewish diaspora, but to all civilized people. For many they are a terrifying reminder of very dark times people of goodwill hoped would remain in the past. Our condolences and prayers reach out to the victims of these terrorist attacks, and to those with personal connections to people now suffering or at risk, and also to all those now pulled back into scarred memories of an evil yet to be fully extinguished. Our sympathy too for the people of Gaza not on board with Hamas, whose fate was sealed by terrorists willing to sacrifice their own in pursuit of their extremist ideology.

Let us hope and pray for swift justice and lasting peace.

Hugh L. MacKinnon KC