Sky News weighed in with: “The trio, one of whom is understood to be a U.S. citizen, are students at a yeshiva, or religious school, in Gush Etzion, a Jewish settlement bloc in the West Bank, deemed illegal under international law.”
So in addition to those who urge equivalence between Palestinian terrorism and Israel’s efforts at defending itself, there are those prepared to go as far as suggesting that the kidnappings are perhaps understandable and the victims at least somewhat at fault.
In any case, we reiterate our first reliance on prayer, tefillah, in seeking the freedom of the kidnapped students: Yaakov Naftali ben Rachel Devorah, Gilad Michael ben Bat-Galim, and Eyal ben Iris Teshurah.
Indeed, calls for prayer have come from a broad Jewish spectrum. In this connection, we note that the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America has issued a call to all Jews to recite Tehillim on behalf of the boys. Specifically, we are urged to recite chapters 13, 20, 22, 35, 43, 44, 69, 77, 83, 90, 102, 107, 121, 130 and 142, with the last three to be recited pasuk by pasuk.
We pray the three boys will soon be rejoining their families and friends.