Officials in Israel at the scene of a terrorist attack near the Jaffa Marina, which lies adjacent to Tel Aviv. (Photo: Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
A Vanderbilt University graduate student was killed and 11 others were wounded, some critically, near the Jaffa marina adjacent to Tel Aviv in a stabbing rampage by a 22-year-old Palestinian terrorist.
Vanderbilt Chancellor Nick Zeppos said in a letter to the university community that Taylor Force, 29, a student at the Owen Graduate School of Management in Nashville, Tenn., was killed during a visit geared to focus on global entrepreneurship. Force was expected to “share his insights and knowledge with start-ups in Israel,” said Zeppos.
Zeppos said Force “exemplified the spirit of discovery, learning and service that is the hallmark of our wonderful Owen community.”
“This horrific act of violence has robbed our Vanderbilt family of a young hopeful life and all of the bright promise that he held for bettering our greater world,” said Zeppos.
The attacker, a resident of Qalqilya in Samaria, struck at three locations near the marina before he was shot dead by police.
Rabbi Shlomo Rothstein, co-director of the Rohr Chabad House at Vanderbilt, said “our heart and prayers go out to Taylor Force’s family, friends and the entire Vanderbilt community, although no words can comfort such pain. Unfortunately, this is one of many such attacks that were committed recently. Let’s work to stop the attacks!”
“It is incumbent upon all people who value life and goodness,” he continued, “to call for the Palestinian leaders to stop teaching hate and death, and to actively teach peace and coexistence with Israel and all nations, no matter how different.”
The attack took place while U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was attending an event at the nearby Peres Center for Peace. In a statement released by his office, Biden “condemned in the strongest possible terms the brutal attack.” He expressed his sorrow at the “tragic loss of American life” and offered his condolences to the family of the murdered U.S. citizen, as well as his wishes for full and quick recoveries for the wounded.
It was the third terrorist attack in Israel on Tuesday. Earlier in the day in Petach Tikvah, a Palestinian terrorist stabbed and wounded a Jewish man in his late 30s. Despite his injuries, the victim managed to pull the knife from his own neck and kill his attacker with it.
In Jerusalem, an Arab terrorist riding a motorbike opened fire on police near the Damascus Gate to the Old City. He was shot dead after wounding two officers, one seriously.