Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has written to Rabbi Leo Dee to express the UK’s “deepest condolences on the brutal murder” of his wife Lucy and two daughters Maia and Rina in a “senseless and abhorrent…act of terrorism”.
In his letter, the Foreign Secretary asserted that there “can be no justification” for the attack and that he “unequivocally condemn[s] this act of terrorism”. The Foreign Secretary told Rabbi Dee that he “cannot begin to imagine the pain and grief you will be feeling at this awful time”.
Responding to the news that Lucy’s organs had been donated to save five other lives, Mr Cleverly said he had been “incredibly moved” and that it is “a testament to the character of you and your family that you were able to find compassion in the darkest moment”. Expressing “sorrow and grief for your family”, the Foreign Secretary offered that the British Government would do “anything…to help you”.
Lucy Dee, the mother of two British-Israeli sisters killed in a shooting attack in the West Bank last Friday, was laid to rest earlier this week after succumbing to her injuries. Her daughters Maia, 20, and Rina, 15, died at the scene after Palestinian gunmen opened fire on their car in the northern Jordan Valley as they travelled to Tiberias for a family holiday.
48-year-old Lucy died of her wounds three days later. Their father and husband, Rabbi Leo Dee, previously served as senior rabbi at Radlett United Synagogue (2011-2014) and assistant rabbi at Hendon United Synagogue (2008-2011) before the family relocated to Israel. Searches are still ongoing for the attackers, who are believed to be hiding in the northern West Bank.
