Defense Minister Ehud Barak issued a somber statement following the murderous terror attack at Burgas airport in Bulgaria.

"A few hours ago, there was a grave terror attack in a bus carrying Israelis at Burgas, in Bulgaria," Barak said. "We have at least three killed, apparently more, and several dozen injured. This is a very grave terror attack. For a long time, we have been following the intentions of the terror organizations, Hizbullah, Hamas, Iranian elements and the [Global] Jihad, to carry out terror attacks worldwide."

"We have a long struggle with them, there are many successes in it, there are difficult days, today is one of these difficult days."

"We still don´t know the names of the people killed and our heart is with the families that are about to get the most terrible news of all. I am sure that we will have to learn lessons and see what should be fixed and perhaps improved, but we need to know that we are in a long struggle. In this struggle, there are also places where fighting takes place, and places where civilians encounter global terror."

"In my opinion, it is of the utmost importance that we do not lose our fortitude, nor the ability to understand that we must live. After learning the lessons, along with listening to the warnings when they can be issued, it is important that Israelis continue to travel in the world, continue to travel around the Land (of Israel) and continue to live the normal life despite all the pain.

"The security establishment will operate with all its strength to reach the perpetrators of this terror attack and the people who sent them." (IsraelNationalNews © 2011 07/18/12)