Warsi-slapped-Tories-comparing-deaths-Israel-synagogue-protests-Jerusalem-mosque.html

Former Foreign Office Minister rebuked by Conservatives over Twitter post
Likened killing of four in Israel to Israeli extremists storming Al Aqsa
Tory chairman Grant Shapps insists she 'speaks for herself, not the party'

Published: 17:25 GMT, 18 November 2014 | Updated: 00:36 GMT, 19 November 2014

A former Tory foreign minister was rebuked by her party chairman after comparing the deaths of four people in a synagogue in Israel to protests at the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

Baroness Warsi, who resigned in August over the government’s policy on Gaza, tweeted: ‘Israeli extremists storm Al Aqsa & intimidate worshippers – Palestinian extremists storm synagogue & kill 4 worshippers.’

Her comments sparked claims that she was comparing protests at a mosque to the murderous attack by two Palestinians armed with a gun and axe.

Baroness Warsi was rebuked by Tory party chairman Grant Shapps for her comments on Twitter about the attack on the synagogue

Mr Shapps made clear on Twitter that Baroness Warsi 'speaks for herself, not the party'

A British-born father and three American citizens were killed in the attack by Palestinian terrorists.

They were slaughtered in a dawn attack by two cousins who screamed 'god is great' as they attacked at random.

Victim Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Goldberg, described as a 'pillar of the community', was born in Liverpool and held a dual British-Israeli passport.

Mr Goldberg, 68, is a grandfather who lived in Golders Green in London before moving to Israel and was a regular visitor to the synagogue.

The others killed in the attack have been named as Rabbi Moshe Twersky, Rabbi Arieh Kopinsky, 43, and Rabbi Calman Levine, who were all dual US-Israeli nationals. The two terrorists were shot dead after the attack by police.

Thousands of people attended a funeral for Twersky at the Torat Moshe yeshiva in Sanhedria early this afternoon, which was closely followed by a joint funeral for Kupinsky, Levine and Goldberg before sundown - the latter held outside the synagogue where the attack occurred.

Baroness Warsi posted the comments on Twitter at 10.16am. SHe asked another user: 'r u suggesting there is NO link (nt justification) between murders in the synagogue & the weeks of intimidation & attacks.'

Grant Shapps responded on Twitter ‘to be clear’ that the Conservative peer ‘speaks for herself, not the party’. He said: ‘Our prayers are with families of those murdered. No justification for terrorism’.