AJC Applauds Justice Department Recognition of Halberstam Murder as Terrorism

American Jewish Committee
Friday, 8 December 2000

The Justice Department's conclusion that the 1994 murder of Aaron Halberstam was an act of terrorism is "recognition by the U.S. government that Middle Eastern terrorism exists on our shores," the American Jewish Committee said today.

"The Justice Department took a bold step last year in reopening the investigation to determine if Rashid Baz acted alone when he opened fire with the intent to kill on a van carrying yeshiva students on the Brooklyn Bridge," said Bruce M. Ramer, president of the American Jewish Committee.

Shulamith Bahat, acting executive director of the American Jewish Committee, said: "The disturbing conclusion of that exhaustive investigation demonstrates that hateful ideologies emanating from the Middle East conflict can wreak havoc on innocents as far away as the United States."

An American Jewish Committee report on the Brooklyn Bridge shooting, issued before the conclusion of the Justice Department's investigation this week, demonstrated that the murder of Aaron Halberstam was unquestionably an act of terrorism inspired by Islamic extremists in the Middle East.

"After the World Trade Center bombing and last year's attempt to bring an explosives-laden car to Seattle, we know all too well that Middle Eastern terrorists, acting alone or as part of a group, can and do operate on American soil," said Yehudit Barsky, director of AJC's division on Middle East and International Terrorism, and author of the AJC report, The Brooklyn Bridge Shooting: An Independent Review and Assessment.

"Rashid Baz's act of terrorism – and murder of Aaron Halberstam – should be understood as an attack to undermine the fabric of our society," said Ms. Barsky.

"Islamic extremists who call for acts of violence against Jews make those pronouncements with the intent that their calls will be taken seriously and such manifestations of their 'holy war' will be carried out worldwide, either by their own followers or admirers of their movements," said Ms. Barsky.

"The responsibility of governments, law enforcement agencies and community leaders is to take them at their word and to recognize the dangers that are created by such calls to commit acts of terror."

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org