The Yesha Council on Saturday night congratulated the IDF on its elimination of the terrorist murderers of Rabbi Meir Chai. “The soldiers and commanders showed bravery, daring, and an exemplary fighting spirit. This is the only way to fight terror. The terrorists were prisoners in Israel who were released, and the government would do well if it internalizes the lessons involved,” the Council said.

The Almagor terror victims’ group said that the victim, Rabbi Chai, “paid with his life for three failures of the Israeli defense establishment: The release of terrorists who were involved in previous attacks, the pardons given to a senior terrorist who had participated in many attacks, and the relations with the Palestinian Authority/Fatah/Tanzim terror groups,” an Almagor statement said.