This letter was sent to Kibbutz Metzer a few days after the shootings on our behalf:

Dear Friends

We are writing to you on behalf of Jews for Justice for Palestinians, a network of British Jews. We are opposed to the occupation and to Israeli Government policies which undermine the livelihoods and the human, civil and political rights of the Palestinian people. We are committed to the right of Israelis to live in freedom and security within Israel's 1967 borders.

We want to express our sorrow at the appalling assault on your kibbutz and the senseless murder of three adults and two children. We grieve at the death of every person in the current conflict, irrespective of nationality, religious identity, belief or politics. Yet we feel the need especially to show our sympathy and solidarity with you, a kibbutz which stands out for its commitment to a peaceful and just settlement.

We are so aware of the inadequacy of words in the face of your current tragedy. But we are thinking of you all the time. We hope that is some little comfort.

Jews for Justice for Palestinians

And this is the reply we received:

On behalf of Kibbutz Metzer, I want to thank you for your sympathy letter.

It took us some time to reorganize, and for this reason I am answering only now.

Your solidarity and your standing are very important to us. We find strength in the fact that we are not alone in our view that the only chance to stop the violence is in the framework of a just peace settlement.

We feel as depositaries of a huge amount of goodwill from people from Israel (arabs and jews) and abroad, as yourselves, and would like to find ways to empower the basic message.

In this respect, we are open to ideas and suggestions, and on the other hand, would like to contact you and similar groups when we come with concrete initiatives.

Once again, thank you very much for your sympathy

Dov Avital
Acting secretary - Kibbuz Metzer