KDH Views Anti-Semitism as Cancer and Hatred as Threat

Bratislava, 15 December (TASR) - The Christian Democrats (KDH) view anti-Semitism as a cancer and hatred as a threat that destroys every society in which it takes root, reads a statement issued by the party on Monday in response to the mass shooting on a beach in Sydney, Australia, during celebrations of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah on Sunday (14 December). According to KDH, Hanukkah is a holiday of lights, dedication and hope. Owing to the way in which it is celebrated and the time at which it usually falls, it most resembles Christmas, and so this holiday creates space for Christian-Jewish rapprochement. "It was with great sadness that we heard the news that terrorists chose the very first day of the celebration of the Festival of Lights to carry out a heinous attack on the Jewish community in Australia, and their shooting spree also claimed several lives," stated the party. The incident took place on Bondi Beach at about 6.45 p.m. local time (8.45 a.m. CET) when two gunmen attacked people celebrating Hanukkah. The death toll has risen to 16, including one of the attackers. The Australian police have said the attackers were a father (50) and son (24). The older gunman was shot dead by police, while the other one has been detained. The police are investigating the incident as a terrorist attack that was directed against the Jewish community in Sydney. ko/df