Israel is concerned by Indian violences

Israeli Foreign Minister and Vice Prime Minister Tzipi Livni condemned Thursday the terrorist attacks across Mumbai, saying they underscored once again that terrorism is the 'greatest challenge' the world faces today. "There is nothing which justifies the unforgivable murder of innocent civilians and as such the international community must work together in the ongoing war against this despicable and evil phenomenon," she said in a statement by her office

In the same time, the Israeli Consulate in Mumbai Thursday searched for missing Israeli nationals after a night of deadly terrorist violence in the Indian financial capital.

The Israeli concern stems from the fact that some of the buildings in Mumbai are owned by the "Chabad," Jewish movement. One of them, the Chabad House, is popular with Israeli tourists.The Chabad on its website said it was concerned about the welfare of its Mumbai representatives, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka, as they had not been heard from after the attacks. 

Its activists are “working closely with the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the US government'' to locate the Holtzbergs and other missing persons in the Chabad House area, the website said.

Mumbai's Chabad House is said to be a popular stop for Israeli tourists where the Holtzbergs offer visitors a host of programmes, including providing kosher food

The attacks, which included explosions and indiscriminate firing by the gunmen, killed and wounded more than 300 people.

Among those killed were 11 police officers, including the chief of Mumbai's anti-terrorism squad.

Some of the gunmen were now reported to be holed up with hostages in Mumbai's two luxury hotels, the Taj and the Oberoi. Indian military commandos had surrounded the facilities.

Some India media quoted a witness as saying the attackers had sought people with British and U.S. passports.

-Pics: meal at the Chabad in Mumbai)