Memorial services were held at the Israel Embassy and the Marble Arch Synagogue this morning for Ami Shechori, the slain Israeli Agricultural Attache whose body is being flown to Israel where funeral services are scheduled tomorrow. Both services were attended by members of the Embassy staff, Ambassador Michael Comay and Chief Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits.
Shechori, who was winding up a four-year tour of duty at the Israel Embassy here, was fatally wounded when he opened a booby-trapped letter in the Embassy’s mail room yesterday morning. Last night a joint memorial service was held for him and for the 11 Israeli Olympic athletes murdered by Arab terrorists in Munich Sept. 5. The service was sponsored by the British Zionist Federation and presided over by its chairman, Abraham Kramer.
Comay, Rabbi Jakobovits, Lord Janner and the Rev. W.W. Simpson, secretary general of the Council of Christians and Jews, were joined at the services by other Jews and non-Jews. Comay said of the terrorists responsible for both outrages, “These people are not only murdering innocent men, such as the Olympic athletes and our agricultural councillor but also the hopes for peace in the Middle East. But they will not succeed,” the Israeli Ambassador said.
“This wave of terrorism is not Israel’s concern alone. It is a challenge to the British government and to all governments.” Comay said Israel was grateful for the expressions of sympathy and revulsion but said that words would no longer suffice. “What is the British government and what are the other governments going to do? Is it all to remain only talk?” he asked.
The Rev. Simpson said that Christians of all denominations are “deeply concerned over this latest manifestation of terrorism and reckless violence.” He said the Pope spoke for all Christians when he said of Munich that it had been an ‘act of dishonor.’ ” Lord Janner remarked that “These terrorists are not supporting the refugees. They are doing infinite harm to their cause. International terrorism is a cancerous growth on our civilization and it will destroy us if it is not removed.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
