Relatives of a Connecticut man murdered in a terrorist shooting attack Monday called for national unity, rather than violence, in response to the attack.
Speaking with Kan Tuesday, relatives of 26-year-old Elan Ganeles said: “There is no family that hasn’t suffered from the current situation. We need to remember that the answer is not more violence, because violence begets violence.”
“We need to try to find what brings us together, rather than pushes us apart.”
Gabriel Ganeles, Elan’s brother, said: “We are crushed, and it is still hard for us to believe. The whole family is coming to Israel from the United States to join our family here.”
Mark Cohen, a friend of Elan, told Yediot Aharanoth: “He was one of the best people I ever met in my life. Even if you yelled at him or got angry, he wouldn’t get angry back at you, he never raised his voice; he would just stand there, smile, and say ‘what are you yelling for? Everything will be fine, we will fix everything.’ He was just liked doing good in this world.”
“He was here for a two-to-three week visit, he came to celebrate a wedding. He worked nights and met with friends during the day.”
Born in West Hartford, Connecticut, Ganeles served in the IDF for two years after graduating high school. He later returned to the US to study at Columbia University, where he graduated last year.
“Our community is shocked and outraged at the brutal murder of 27 year old West Hartford, CT resident, Elan Ganeles,” the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford said Tuesday morning.
“Elan was gunned down in a terrorist attack in Israel Monday evening. Ganeles, who grew up in West Hartford and was in Israel to attend a wedding, was driving when two Palestinian terrorists drove up to his car and opened fire. He was rushed to Hadassah Medical Center in critical condition as paramedics attempted to resuscitate him. He was sadly pronounced dead at the hospital.”
“Once again, a civilian was targeted by those who see violence toward the innocent as a solution,” said David Waren, President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Ganeles family and affirm our solidarity with the people of Israel at this time of escalating violence. May Elan’s memory be a blessing for his family and our entire community.”