WHEELING — About 200 people came together in Wheeling on Tuesday evening in support of Israel following the recent deadly attacks on the country by Hamas militants.

The Interfaith Service in Support of Israel was held at Temple Shalom in Wheeling. Rabbi Joshua Lief gave a strong message, condemning the killing of innocent Israelis at the hands of Hamas. Other faith leaders also offered prayers including the Rev. Chris Figaretti, pastor of The Vineyard Church; the Most Rev. Mark Brennan, Bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese; the Rev. Ken Hardway, pastor of First Christian Church; and the Rev. Erica Harley, pastor of Vance Memorial Presbyterian Church.

“For years there has been an argument in the world that the Palestinians are so weak and Israel is so strong,” Lief said. “We, particularly in the west, love an underdog, and the little guy must be the good guy, right?

“The events of this weekend must put to bed once and for all the lie of moral equivalency,” he continued. “Are the Palestinian people living in squalor, oppression and horrible conditions? Absolutely, yes. But who is their oppressor? Hamas is their No. 1 oppressor.”

“They are not good Muslims. They are not good stewards of the Palestinian people. They are evil. They are terrorists and we should have all been saying so all along.

“Some of us have been saying that all along, but the world has been misled through a very elaborate and very effective propaganda campaign.

“Hopefully now, through abject horror that is undeniable, that lie must stop,” Lief said. “Murdering people as they sleep on the Sabbath morning. Beheading parents and kidnapping their children.

“Marching women naked through the streets. Putting toddlers in cages and throwing trash at them and torturing them in public.

“These are no one’s rules of war. This is not a reasonable campaign strategy.

“This is not political speech born out of outrage and oppression.

“This is evil and it cannot be allowed under the guise of a moral injustice being answered by equally unjust behavior.

“This is evil. They are terrorists. … They want to murder Jews and they want to eliminate the state of Israel.”

Hundreds of Israelis were killed during the attacks. Lief said members of the synagogue have lost cousins living in Israel and many others who are missing or presumed dead. There is also a temple member who lives there now who has not been reached as well.

Figaretti said he was praying for Israel and its leaders.

“What we have witnessed over the past several days are barbaric acts of injustice, senseless violence, and provocative aggressions that truly set our world up for global conflict,” he said. “God surprise us in the days ahead of how this story unfolds – not in World War III, not in bloody genocide, not in Armageddon, but in peace in Jerusalem and miraculous reconciliation.”

Brennan prayed that Israel be protected.

“No grievance justifies murder, which Hamas has committed,” he said. “Nor can Israel’s right to defend itself be denied.

“You teach us, Lord, that resorting to violence cannot resolve conflicts, . …

“Inspire us to pray and work for justice in the Holy Land.”

Hardway prayed that tears shed over the attack not be wasted.

“Don’t let our tears dry too quickly, oh God, but instead let them become teachers of your wisdom,” he said.

Harley prayed for victims of terror.

“May those who live in the shadow of terror see the light of your promised death,” she said.

People can make donations to help the victims at www.jewishfederations.org.