TEL AVIV – In a show of solidarity with the victims of the Orlando massacre, the Tel Aviv municipality lit up City Hall with the rainbow colors of the Pride flag interspersed with the flags of the U.S. and Israel.
The mayor of Tel Aviv, Ron Huldai, sent a letter on behalf of residents of Tel Aviv to the governor of Florida and the mayor of Orlando.
“It is with great sorrow that I send you my condolences for the tragic terror attack which happened in your city/state. My sympathy during these hours is particularly with the families and relatives of the victims who have to suffer the terrible loss of their loved ones by this horrible act of terror. I wish to also send my blessing of health and quick recovery to the wounded who have been afflicted by the attack,” the letter read.
Impromptu vigils sprang up all over the country in the aftermath of the massacre, in which 50 people were killed by Omar Mateen, a U.S. citizen born to Afghan parents.
In Tel Aviv’s Gan Meir park, which is also the city’s LGBT headquarters, a candlelight vigil was held.
In Zion Square in Jerusalem, LGBT activists and supporters gathered with rainbow flags to show solidarity with Orlando.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted his condolences to the American people:
“Orlando is thousands of miles from Israel, but the tragedy there has deeply saddened me. We Israelis feel your pain as if it were our own,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, his party’s own LGBT-equality group, called Likud Pride, posted its condolences on Facebook: “We wish to send our deepest condolences to the American LGBT community for the sickening massacre which took place in Orlando, Florida. We stand with you in your fight against terrorism and homophobia,” the post read.
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