Background:
The Ma'alot massacre was a Palestinian terrorist attack [May 1974] of a two-day hostage-taking of 115 Jewish people ending in the murders of over 25 hostages. Three armed members of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine entered Israel from Lebanon, attacked a van, killing two Israeli Arab women injuring a third, entered an apartment building in the town of Ma'alot, killing a couple and their four-year-old son. They headed for the Netiv Meir Elementary School, took more than 115 people (including 105 children) hostage in Ma'alot. The hostage-takers issued demands for the release of 23 Palestinian terrorists from Israeli prisons, or they would kill the students. On the second day of the standoff, a unit of the Golani Brigade stormed the building. During the takeover, the hostage-takers killed children with grenades and automatic weapons. Ultimately, 25 hostages, including 22 children, were killed and 68 injured.
The Rebbe’s Comment:
A few days ago there took place the slaughter of children in Ma-alot, an act which runs contrary to intelligence and humanity - regardless the nations are not responding. Rather than making a declaration that such action is unacceptable - they remain silent. And not only do they remain silent, but there are those who rejoice at this.
The silence of the Nations is not something out of the ordinary for us. Also at the time of the Nazis - may their name and remembrance be blotted out - the nations remained silent!
Pashat Noso 1974.
