Boston, MA, March 16, 2008 … Robert O. Trestan, Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Eastern States Civil Rights Counsel today issued the following statement about the early Saturday firebombing of the house of Jewish Agency for Israel’s (JAFI) representative in Providence, RI:

We deplore in the strongest possible terms this cowardly assault on the residence of the Jewish Agency’s representative in Providence. Two Molotov cocktails allegedly were thrown, and only because one fortunately failed to explode was more extensive damage and personal injury to the occupants avoided.

JAFI engages in educational and Zionist work, and has helped bring millions of Jews to Israel. Its representative was working on programs at Brown University. This shocking incident in the academic setting of a prestigious university is a reminder to all that no place is immune from the threat of hate and anti-Semitism.

An act of hatred against one group is an attack against all, and we commend the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement agencies in Providence for their swift response to this attack. We will do everything we can to assist them in determining whether this incident was an anti-Jewish or anti-Israel hate crime and to find those responsible.