Israeli police announced Thursday that they had arrested an 18-year-old man with dual Israel-U.S. citizenship as the primary suspect for most of the bomb threats that have been called into Jewish Community Centers and other Jewish institutions in 40 U.S. states and 4 Canadian provinces. 

We are deeply distressed to learn that the suspect is a Jewish teen with US-Israeli citizenship. Regardless of the perpetrator’s identity, these were deplorable, disruptive, and deeply disturbing acts designed to terrorize, and we condemn them in the strongest terms. There is never a justification for this behavior. We are baffled, and committed to learning everything we can to prevent this kind of criminal action in the future. 

Unfortunately, these bomb threats are not the only crimes against the Jewish community in recent months. We are confident that law enforcement will bring the perpetrators of these other acts to justice as well. 

Todd Polikoff, President and CEO of Jewish Nevada stated, “We as a community must remain vigilant and committed to combating hatred and intolerance, and we are grateful to the Israeli and American law enforcement agencies for their commitment to ensuring the safety of our communities.” 

Jewish Nevada provides grants to over 70 local and international organizations; powering agencies that make community possible. We raise funds to support local camp and educational scholarships, cultural programming, humanitarian missions, senior services, as well as rescue and relief services in Nevada, Israel and around the world. 

 

Jewish Nevada (Nevada’s Jewish Federation) 

Todd Polikoff