"On our national holiday, Bastille Day, France once again finds itself standing in the face of a horrific terror attack. Dozens killed and injured, men, women, children, all victims of terrorism in Nice.""We are obviously grief-stricken, and I am confidant that all of our friends in Israel stand united with us and in solidarity with the French people and share in the grief of the victims' families and love ones,"
Maisonnave added: "What kind of world is this where a fanatic can kill following a day of joy... a day of celebration honoring the nation of France? France will cope once again in the face of these events."
Rabbi Yosef Pinson, the Chabad emisary in Nice, said "the Jewish community has decided not to surrender to terrorism and will continue living our daily Jewish lives. We will conduct our Shabbat shopping in the kosher stores and attend services at our synagogues."Meanwhile, President Reuven Rivlin personally sent a letter of condolence to French President Francois Hollande Friday morning on behalf of the citizens of Israel."It is with pain and sorrow that I must once again write and express my deepest condolences, and those of all the Israeli people, following the horrific terror attack in Nice," Rivlin wrote to the French president."Israel stands with France and the Israeli people stand with the French people, shoulder to shoulder in the face of this terrible evil, as should the whole free world. We must work united to reach the terrorists, their supporters and backers, wherever they may hide," he added.Opposition leader in the Knesset MK Issac Herzog (Zionist Union) also posted to social media his thoughts on Thursday evening's terror attack."The vile terrorism has returned in full force and destroyed the celebration of freedom, equality and fraternity," Herzog wrote on his Twitter page Friday."This is our generations world war. My condolences to the French nation and the families of the killed and wounded," he added.Outpouring of support from Israeli leaders continued with former president Shimon Peres saying "we embrace the French people who are suffering from this tragic terror attack."He added that "world leaders must come together and fight global terrorism."News outlets were still waiting to receive information pertaining to the perpetrator's identity from counter-terrorist investigators, who a local government official said opened fire after exiting his vehicle before police shot him dead. The official said weapons and grenades were found inside the 25-tonne, unmarked articulated truck.Officials said hundreds were hurt as the driver wove along the seafront, knocking them down "like skittles."The attack, which came eight months and a day after Islamic State gunmen and suicide bombers struck the French capital on a festive Friday evening, seemed so far to be the work of a lone assailant.Reuters contributed to this article.