Ron Dermer, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., said Monday the terrorists forces behind the carnage in Paris that left at least 129 people dead and scores more wounded must be stopped or it could spread elsewhere into Europe and the U.S.
Dermer, who was in Atlanta to address a conference for the Birthright Israel organization, said Israel is sharing intelligence and offering other support with France as it launches more than 160 anti-terrorism raids to hunt suspects of the coordinated attacks Friday that horrified the West.
“We are on the front lines of that fight. We are facing the same thing they are facing in Paris,” Dermer said in an interview. “In their vision of society, there is no place for Jews, for Christians, for America, for Israel – even for Muslims. There is no place for anyone who doesn’t believe in their fanaticism.”
He said he's concerned that the Islamic State, who authorities have linked to a larger network of plotters stretching to war-torn Syria, will be emboldened to carry out more attacks if "not confronted in Syria.”
“I hope that in the wake of these outrageous and heinous attacks, that you will see people support Israel more in its fight against these militant Islamists,” said Dermer. “Because our fight is their fight.”
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