On Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the deadly incident in Jerusalem in which a 14-year-old haredi boy was killed, and several others were injured when a bus drove into a group of haredi protesters.
"I feel a deep pain over the death of the dear yeshiva student Yosef Eizental, z"l," Netanyahu said, adding that the causes for the tragedy would be thoroughly investigated.
He also called for restraint to prevent further tragedies, stating that "the holy value of a life is etched in our heritage."
Other Israeli leaders issued statements on the event on Tuesday evening.
President Isaac Herzog said, “We went through a very sad and painful evening,” referring to the loss of the teenager and all who were injured. He said that “violence is crossing a red line in the most serious and dangerous sense,” and called the incident “a wake-up call for all of us.”
Herzog urged those involved to “show responsibility, lower the flames and do everything possible to prevent the next disaster, before it is too late.”
He said he trusts the police “to conduct a swift and thorough investigation in order to quickly bring those responsible to justice and draw the necessary conclusions.” Herzog added that his heart is with the boy’s family, sending condolences and wishing a full recovery to those injured.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a statement posted on Telegram that his “heart is bleeding following the killing of the 14-year-old boy, Yosef Eisenthal… as a result of being run over by a bus driver in Jerusalem.” He said he shares in the family’s grief “at this difficult time.”
Israeli leaders call for a thorough police investigation
Ben-Gvir said the incident “must be investigated thoroughly and comprehensively,” adding that police told him “that all investigative directions regarding the incident are being examined, and that it is being treated with the utmost seriousness.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the incident “is heartbreaking and shocking by every measure.” He called on police and law enforcement authorities “to bring the offending driver to justice.”
Smotrich added, “We must not come to terms with scenes like these,” and said authorities are obligated to act to ensure they do not recur.
Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar also addressed the event, stating that a "red line" had been crossed.
"No ideological argument can justify the murder of a young Jewish boy," he said in a post on Twitter/X.