“Deeply concerned about the civilian deaths and injuries that have occurred in the West Bank these past 48 hours, including that of minors,” the ambassador wrote.

By JNS

Mere hours after Palestinian terrorists murdered four Israelis and injured four others, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides tweeted a statement.

“Deeply concerned about the civilian deaths and injuries that have occurred in the West Bank these past 48 hours, including that of minors,” he wrote. “Praying for the families as they mourn the loss of loved ones, or tend to those injured.”

Deeply concerned about the civilian deaths and injuries that have occurred in the West Bank these past 48 hours, including that of minors. Praying for the families as they mourn the loss of loved ones, or tend to those injured.

— Ambassador Tom Nides (@USAmbIsrael) June 20, 2023

On Monday, Israeli forces struck targets in Jenin after a deadly gun battle erupted during an IDF counter-terror raid in the city. Five Palestinian gunmen were killed, and seven Israeli soldiers were wounded.

“Unfortunate statement from Israel’s best friend and ally. It borders on moral equivalency!” tweeted Abraham Foxman, the former head of the Anti-Defamation League.

Unfortunate statement from Israel’s best friend and ally. It borders on moral equivalency!

— Abraham Foxman (@FoxmanAbraham) June 20, 2023

Arsen Ostrovsky, CEO of the International Legal Forum, also responded on Twitter. “Mr. Ambassador, might you clarify your statement? Are you referring to today’s massacre of four Israelis, by Palestinian terrorists in Eli? Or that Israel was forced to defend its citizens from terrorists in Jenin yesterday?” he wrote. “I sincerely hope you are not implying moral equivalence.”

Mr. Ambassador, might you clarify your statement? Are you referring to today’s massacre of 4 Israelis, by Palestinian terrorists in Eli? Or that Israel was forced to defend its citizens from terrorists in Jenin yesterday? I sincerely hope you are not implying moral equivalence.

— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) June 20, 2023

Rabbi Elchanan Poupko, who teaches at a New York Jewish day school, wrote that the ambassador’s statement was very poorly worded. “Palestinians massacred four Israelis and injured eight. Please don’t All-Lives-Matter it.”

I love you @USAmbIsrael but your statement is VERY poorly worded.

Palestinians massacred 4 Israelis and injured 8.

Please don’t all-lives-matter it.

— Rabbi E. Poupko. #FreeEvanGershkovich (@RabbiPoupko) June 20, 2023

“Are you equating Israeli terror victims to terrorists themselves who were killed?” added Aaron Goren, a CAMERA on Campus advisor.

Are you equating Israeli terror victims to terrorists themselves who were killed?

— Aaron (@RealAaronGoren) June 20, 2023

“As a U.S. citizen, I am dismayed at the lumping together of terror victims and those killed in a terrorist firefight with the IDF days earlier,” another Twitter user posted. “Good to know not much has changed in the State Department.”

As a US citizen I am dismayed at the lumping together of terror victims and those killed in a terrorist firefight with the idf days earlier. Good to know not much has changed in the state department.

— Ari Ozick (@ariozick) June 20, 2023

One thing did change. Nearly an hour after Nides posted the first tweet, he tweeted another statement. “I condemn in the strongest terms the senseless murder of four innocent Israelis today—my heart is with their grieving family members,” he wrote.

I condemn in the strongest terms the senseless murder of four innocent Israelis today — my heart is with their grieving family members.

— Ambassador Tom Nides (@USAmbIsrael) June 20, 2023

“This is the tweet you should have wrote in the first instance. Not the deplorable attempt at moral equivalence you did!” Ostrovsky wrote. Foxman added, “Thank you Mr. Ambassador for your recent condemnation of the murder of innocent Israelis.”

Thank you Mr. Ambassador for your recent condemnation of the murder of innocent Israelis.

— Abraham Foxman (@FoxmanAbraham) June 20, 2023

More than two hours before Nides posted his first message, Neil Wigan, the United Kingdom’s ambassador to Israel, tweeted: “I am horrified by the attack today near Eli that killed four Israelis. Such terrorism has no justification. My deepest condolences to the families of those killed.”

I am horrified by the attack today near Eli that killed four Israelis. Such terrorism has no justification. My deepest condolences to the families of those killed.

— Neil Wigan (@FCDONeilWigan) June 20, 2023