United States Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) issued a strong supportive statement in the face of the recent kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers on Thursday evening.  Eyal Yifrach, 19, and Naftali Frenkel and Gilad Shaar, both 16, disappeared on their way home from high school in the Gush Etzion area of Judea.  All three youths are Israeli, but Frenkel holds US citizenship, as well.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the three Jewish teenagers, two Israelis and one American, who have been kidnapped by radical Islamic terrorists. This atrocity against both our nations reminds us that we face a mutual enemy who attacks us because of our shared commitment to the basic principles of freedom.”

Cruz acknowledged how US choices may have influenced the current circumstances.

“This act of terrorism should also alert the Obama Administration to the fact that working with, recognizing, and/or funding any ‘unity’ government that includes those that seek the destruction of the Jewish State is naive and foolish. Such legitimization of the enemies of Israel and the United States only invites more violence,” he said.

“As Prime Minister Netanyahu pointed out, ‘You remember that Israel warned the international community about the dangers of endorsing the Fatah-Hamas unity pact. The dangers of that pact now should be abundantly clear to all,” the senator added.

Cruz demanded the Obama administration to cut funding to the Palestinian Authority in response to the kidnappings.

“President Obama should immediately direct the Department of State to suspend assistance to the Palestinian Authority until the PA recognizes Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and takes specific and affirmative steps to renounce and eradicate terrorism. This most recent vicious attack on innocent young civilians demonstrates beyond any doubt that the PA is not fulfilling these conditions, and not one more U.S. taxpayer dollar should be sent to support them until they do,” he stated.

Cruz’s comments were welcome after US Secretary of State John Kerry’s lackluster response.  Kerry issued a statement in the wake of the kidnapping, but only several days after the fact, and has neglected to mention the incident since.

Kerry’s “strong condemnation” did not carry with it any sort of change in US policy, despite recognizing that “many indications point to Hamas’ involvement.”  Knowing that Hamas “is a terrorist organization known for its attacks on innocent civilians and which has used kidnapping in the past” did not deter the US government from agreeing to interact with the PA’s Hamas-Fatah unity government.

Kerry also made no mention of the fact that one of the boys, Frenkel, is an American citizen and thus the US government’s responsibility, as well.

A petition has been started to pressure the US government to demand the release of Frenkel, and by extension, his fellow victims.  The petition can be found here.  100,000 signatures are needed for policy experts to officially address the issue.