A 'true' statesman ---

Israeli leaders on Sunday spoke on behalf of an empathetic nation when they told the people of America that Israel feels their pain following last week's massacre of 26 school children and their teachers.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent the following message to President Barack Obama, the grieving families and all Americans:

"The people of Israel grieve with you. When we see these horrible sights of slain children, young boys and girls whose life is nipped in the bud in such cruel acts of savagery, I can tell you from my own experience that we understand the pain and agony. We feel we’re one family with you, and I can only pray that God will give you the strength, as he’s given us, to overcome the tragedy and go on living."