No immediate US official response to these remarks was identified in the reports reviewed by The Jerusalem Post at the time of publication

In countries across the region, Christian communities are persecuted and even massacred. By contrast, Christians in Israel are protected by law with full civil rights, representation, and security.

Purim commemorates the deliverance of the Jews in ancient Persia over 2,000 years ago. It is rooted in the broader Middle Eastern landscape, where Jews have part of this region since antiquity.

Ofer Raphaeli, who founded the Israeli branch of MC2, said: “I met Jeffrey Epstein only twice, by chance, for a few minutes. There was no friendship, business connection, or any other connection."

Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the explosion, which occurred before the gunfire, was followed by a drone hovering over the area.

The terrorist group said on its Dabiq news agency that it had targeted “an individual of the apostate Syrian regime” in the city of Mayadin in Deir al-Zor province using a pistol.

Laurie played a nuclear regulatory inspector in the third season of the series, which won an International Emmy for Best Drama Series, and which is available in Israel on KAN.

Rescue forces announced that the operation had been complex, involving a series of rope systems in a difficult environment.