ISIS hostage Kenji Goto
ISIS hostage Kenji GotoScreenshot

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu sent a condolence letter to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Sunday, after ISIS murdered hostage Kenji Goto Saturday to worldwide outrage. Fellow hostage Haruna Yukawa was murdered by the group last week. 

"Please accept my heartfelt condolences following the tragic deaths of Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto," Netanyahu wrote. "These despicable, cold-blooded murders by ISIS are a chilling reminder of the need for all free nations to join hands in an uncompromising battle against the Islamist terrorism that is plaguing the Middle East and the entire world." 

"Kindly convey our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims," he continued. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them and the Japanese people at this difficult time." 

Shortly after the news broke, Abe told reporters, "I am extremely angry about these heinous and despicable terrorist acts. We will never forgive terrorists." 

"I am at a loss for words thinking about the pain that (Goto's) family must feel," he added.

Abe left his tour of the Middle East last month after Goto and Yukawa had been kidnapped by the group. 

Israel and Japan have become full-blown allies over the past year, with Netanyahu saying explicitly that Israel is turning away from the West and towards Asia in January and after the signing of a historic Memorandum of Cooperation in the fields of industrial R&D between the two nations.