Israel has strongly condemned the recent terror attack in Kashmir, calling it “unacceptable” and urged Pakistan to act against terrorism.
Speaking to ANI, Kobbi Shoshani, Consul General of Israel to Midwest India, said the heartbreaking images from the Pahalgam attack left him shaken. He emphasized the deep, historic ties between India and Israel, calling their bond “unbreakable.”
“What we saw a few days ago in Kashmir is unacceptable. We cannot stand aside as human beings, as friends, as brothers of India. The photos were heartbreaking,” Shoshani said.
On April 22, terrorists attacked tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, killing 26 people and injuring several others. In response, India announced strong countermeasures against Pakistan, including the closure of the Attari Integrated Check Post, suspension of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals, and suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
When asked about Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s “either water or blood will flow” remarks, Shoshani firmly responded:
“Pakistan needs to deal with the terror activities they have carried out in Kashmir. India is handling the situation very smartly through diplomacy. But such massacres are simply unacceptable.”
Shoshani, reflecting on the shared challenges faced by India and Israel, said terrorism has been a continuous threat since their inception in 1947 and 1948, respectively. He stressed that while achieving 100% success against terrorism is difficult, nations must fight determinedly and ensure that terrorists and their leaders face harsh consequences.
“Terrorists must know that if they act, they and their leaders will pay a heavy price,” he added.
Shoshani expressed his affection for India, saying he feels completely safe living here. In fact, after hearing about the terror attack, he said his immediate reaction was to want to visit Kashmir to show resilience against terrorism.
“Terrorists don’t want us to live normally. The best answer is to continue traveling and living freely. I love India and feel safe here,” he said.
Talking about India-Israel relations, Shoshani noted that while formal diplomatic ties were established in 1992, the real change came post-2014, especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Israel in 2017.
“Since 2014, the bond between the people and leaders of both nations has only grown stronger. There is something special between India and Israel that goes beyond politics,” he said.
As India strengthens its response to cross-border terrorism, its ties with trusted allies like Israel offer renewed support in the global fight against terror.
