Shelley Berkley: “I rise today, Madam Speaker, in strong support of House Resolution 453, condemning the terrorist attacks in Istanbul…”

“I rise today, Madam Speaker, in strong support of House Resolution 453, condemning the terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15 of this year and expressing my sincerest condolences to the victims and their families. This past Saturday, as they gathered together to observe the holy Sabbath, two explosions devastated the Jewish community in Istanbul, Turkey. The first occurred at the city's largest synagogue and symbolic center to the city's 25,000-member Jewish community and the second at Beth Israel synagogue about three miles away. More than 20 people lost their lives and more than 300 were injured as terrorism, yet again, tore the fabric of civilized society and shattered innocent lives. Most of those killed in the blasts, ironically, were Muslim Turks who lived or worked near the synagogues who were passing by when the bombs exploded. This is not the first time that al-Qaeda has targeted the Jewish institutions.”