Israel pays tribute to 26/11 victims at Mumbai's Jewish centre

Mumbai, Jan 14 (ANI): Visiting Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer paid tribute to those killed by terrorists at Nariman House, the Jewish cultural centre in Mumbai, in November 2008.

Run by Chabad-Lubavitch Movement, the centre, which constitutes an educational centre and a synagogue, offers drug prevention services and transit stay to Jews.

Eliezer is the first Israel minister to visit the spot where many Jews were killed during the attack. He paid tribute to the victims by lighting candles in their memory.

Israel's Ambassador to India, Mark Sofer, accompanied Eliezer.

Eliezer praised the spirit of Israelis and Indians for bouncing back after experiencing the ill-fated 69 hours.

"The slaughter carried out in this Chabad House and the numerous killing are heartbreaking. But the spirit of the people of Israel and India were not broken. They have shown enormous strength and resilience," said Eliezer.

Nariman House was one of the 10 sites attacked by gunmen during a 60-hour siege in the city that began on November 26, 2008.

Several people were held hostage for the next three days and at least 166 people were killed before commandoes smoked out the last of the terrorists on November 28. (ANI)