Terrorism Expert Dr. Sha'ul Shai of the Interdisciplinary Institute in Herzliya says it's likely that Al-Qaeda is behind the attacks: "It first allows some smaller or unknown organization to take credit for the attack, and then the truth begins to come out, via the internet and the like, within a few days. This gains them a few days for its operatives to escape, and also an increase in confusion and uncertainty."
Dr. Shai says that Jews and Judaism are prime targets of Al-Qaeda: "Al-Qaeda, ever since its beginning, has always targeted Judaism. It declared a worldwide jihad against the Crusader-Jewish covenant. This began in 1999 in France, then Jerba and Morocco, and now Istanbul."
Less than two hours after yesterday's murderous attack in Turkey, a religious Jewish school north of Paris was torched, causing heavy damage. The destroyed building housed the Merkaz HaTorah elementary and high school for boys.
Over 200 antisemitic attacks, physical and otherwise, have been registered around the world since the beginning of 2003, including 80 in France. Murderous antisemitic attacks around the world over the past several years include:
Morocco - 2 killed, Sept. 2003
Morocco - 40 killed in a series of attacks against Jewish targets in Casablanca, May 2003
Kenya - 18 people, including three Israelis, killed in a car bomb attack in the Paradise Hotel, Nov. 2002
California - two Israelis shot to death at El Al ticket counter in Los Angeles, July 4, 2002
Tunis - 17 people in a truck bomb explosion outside synagogue, April 2002
Buenos Aires, Argentina - 29 killed by car bomb outside Israeli Embassy, July 1994
Buenos Aires, Argentina - 86 killed by car bomb outside Jewish Center, March 1992
Dr. Shai says that Jews and Judaism are prime targets of Al-Qaeda: "Al-Qaeda, ever since its beginning, has always targeted Judaism. It declared a worldwide jihad against the Crusader-Jewish covenant. This began in 1999 in France, then Jerba and Morocco, and now Istanbul."
Less than two hours after yesterday's murderous attack in Turkey, a religious Jewish school north of Paris was torched, causing heavy damage. The destroyed building housed the Merkaz HaTorah elementary and high school for boys.
Over 200 antisemitic attacks, physical and otherwise, have been registered around the world since the beginning of 2003, including 80 in France. Murderous antisemitic attacks around the world over the past several years include:
Morocco - 2 killed, Sept. 2003
Morocco - 40 killed in a series of attacks against Jewish targets in Casablanca, May 2003
Kenya - 18 people, including three Israelis, killed in a car bomb attack in the Paradise Hotel, Nov. 2002
California - two Israelis shot to death at El Al ticket counter in Los Angeles, July 4, 2002
Tunis - 17 people in a truck bomb explosion outside synagogue, April 2002
Buenos Aires, Argentina - 29 killed by car bomb outside Israeli Embassy, July 1994
Buenos Aires, Argentina - 86 killed by car bomb outside Jewish Center, March 1992