New York, NY, January 29, 2007 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called today's suicide bombing in Eilat "another despicable display of the unceasing Palestinian use of terrorism against civilians."  Rather than condemning the attack by Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian Authority representative called the bombing, and all acts of terrorism, a legitimate form of "resistance" against Israel.

Three people were killed in the bombing in the city of Eilat, which never before has witnessed a terror attack.  A Hamas spokesman declared, "So long as there is occupation, resistance is legitimate."

Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, National Director, issued the following statement:

It is a year since the Hamas victory in the Palestinian Authority parliamentary elections, and yet the Hamas government has never disavowed terrorism and in fact continues to support it as a "legitimate" tool of "resistance."  The Eilat suicide attack was another despicable display of the unceasing Palestinian use of terrorism against civilians.

Following the Hamas success in the January 25, 2006 elections, many suggested that day-to-day governing would lead Hamas to moderate its tone and approach toward Israel.  This has certainly not been the case. 

Aside from the dozens of thwarted terrorist attacks, the daily barrage of rockets from Gaza into Israel has continued, and the fate of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit still hangs in the balance.  Hamas has not renounced terrorism, has not recognized Israel's right to exist, and has not accepted the legitimacy of previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements.   The international community must continue to be steadfast in its demand that Hamas commit to these three criteria.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.