The murder of Efrat resident Ari Fuld by a terrorist on Sunday elicited worldwide condemnation this week.
Fuld, 45, was stabbed near the Gush Etzion Junction south of Jerusalem. He managed to shoot the 17-year-old assailant and wound him, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
U.N. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov tweeted on Monday:"I extend my condolences to the family of Ari Fuld, an Israeli-American civilian who was stabbed in the West Bank yesterday. Everyone must stand up to violence and condemn terror."
The head of the European Union Delegation to Israel Emanuele Giaufret also took to Twitter, writing: "My condolences to the family of the Israeli civilian victim of a stabbing attack in the West Bank today. There can be no justification for violence and terror."
The French Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying: "France condemns the attack that killed an Israeli citizen on Sunday, Sept. 16, near Gush Etzion in the West Bank. We extend our condolences to the victim's family. We reaffirm that the use of violence is unacceptable and only serves to exacerbate tensions on the ground."
Germany's Federal Foreign Office condemned the attack, saying on its website: "Yesterday's attack on an Israeli in the West Bank fills us with profound sorrow and concern. We extend our sincere sympathy to the man's family and loved ones. There can be no justification whatsoever for the fact that some people welcome such a cowardly attack and thus incite further hatred. We condemn such violent attacks, and their incitement or justification, in the strongest possible terms. They will only make the goal of Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace and security in two states ever more distant."
Hundreds of people attended Fuld's funeral early Monday. The U.S.-born father of four lived in the Gush Etzion community of Efrat and was a well-known pro-Israel advocate.
Fuld worked as an English-language internet commentator on current affairs and the weekly Torah portion. He was known for his hard-line nationalist ideology and strong support for the Israeli military. According to his Twitter account, he had planned to go on a lecture tour in the United States in November.
At his funeral, Fuld's father Yonah eulogized his son, saying: "He gave his life for the sanctification of God and the sanctity of the land. Had you asked, he would have told you that was the way he wanted to die. He had a passion for Torah. If he wasn't fighting for Israel in the media, you would find him with a sacred book in his hand. From the time of his youth, he would stay up until 2 in the morning and give lessons to other students, and he always continued to study. He was a hero like a lion."
He went on to say that "Zion is weeping and the land of Israel is weeping," highlighting how his Zionist advocacy made an impact in unexpected ways. "My son told me he was receiving thousands of letters from all over the world. Even from Saudi Arabia. He was everyone's hero."
Fuld's widow, Miriam, said his death will not diminish his work and his memory. "We get knocked down and we get right back up, because life is a package deal and we can't pick and choose. We must accept the good and the bad. Now it is my turn to be strong and continue onward."
She then spoke about their unique bond: "I don't know how to continue without you, we were born 24 hours apart. We never knew it would end this way. You fought for what you believed in. I promise to watch over the children. … Your job is to protect us from above. Thank you for the beautiful years and all the amazing children you gave me. I love you, I love you, I love you. "
