Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday sent a letter of condolence to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, following the terror attack that struck the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul late Tuesday night, killing at least 41 people and injuring scores.
“I write to express my heartfelt condolences to you and the entire Turkish people, following the brutal terror attack on the Ataturk airport last night,” Rivlin wrote.
Rivlin decried the attack as a “cowardly, murderous act” which is “an example of the most vitriolic hatred the like of which we are sadly seeing across our region and the entire world today.”
Rivlin took the opportunity to welcome the reconciliation accord signed between Israel and Turkey on Tuesday, which he said was a “chance to renew our good relationship especially because our strengthened dialogue will greatly aid in our joint efforts against this threat, and because it sends a strong message to the terrorists that we will stand untied against hatred.”
“The State of Israel is ready and willing to assist in any way possible to aid with the recovery from this attack, and to work together to ensure no such attack may be repeated,” Rivlin offered.
“On behalf of all the Israeli people, I send my thoughts and prayers to the families of the bereaved, and for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he concluded.
Three suicide bombers, suspected of being members of the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group, fired at the crowd entering the Ataturk Airport and then blew themselves up, killing over 41 victims and wounding some 250.
At least 200 people have recently been killed in a series of terror attacks in Turkey, including three Israelis.
By: Max Gelber, United with Israel