Politicians smear the Palestine movement after two Israeli Embassy staffers killed in D.C.
Two Israeli Embassy staffers were killed in a shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, on Wednesday night. The American Jewish Committee (AJC) was hosting an event at the building.
The victims were Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26. According to Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. they were a “young couple about to be engaged.”
“The event had just wrapped up. A couple of us were touring the galleries upstairs and out of nowhere, we hear a series of loud bangs, just ‘boom, boom, boom,’ one after the other. And my friend was like ‘were those gunshots?’ And I was like ‘no, no, no that was just construction we’re fine,’” a witness told CNN.
“Then we went downstairs to the main lobby where the event was held,”
he continued. “A man rushed in and said he had dislocated his shoulder,
said there were indeed gunshots. Security at the event ushered us
quickly back into a safe location behind the main room, and we were
there for a few minutes.”
Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old male, is
the sole suspect in the shooting. He was detained by police shortly
after the killing without resistance. Police are currently searching a
Chicago home believed to be his residence.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department chief Pamel Smith, Rodriguez said, “Free, free Palestine” in custody. A witness claimed she heard the suspect exclaim, ““I did it for Gaza” after the shooting.
“Israeli diplomats and representatives around the world stand on the frontlines of Israel’s diplomatic efforts — defending the country with their very lives,” said the Israeli Foreign Ministry in a statement. “We will not be deterred by terror. We will continue our mission across the globe, with unwavering commitment to represent Israel with pride.”
Pro-Israel groups and lawmakers immediately tagged the killing as an antisemitic attack and some connected it to the Gaza protests of the past 18 months.
“These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!,” wrote President Donald Trump on Truth Social. “Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!”
“Antisemitism has no place in our nation, and its rise must be urgently crushed by people of goodwill across America and throughout the world,” said Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
“This sickening shooting seems to be another horrific instance of antisemitism which as we know is all too rampant in our society,” wrote Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
“There is a direct line connecting antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement to this murder,” said Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar at a news conference in Jerusalem. “This incitement is also done by leaders and officials of many countries and international organizations, especially from Europe.”
“When people chant slogans about murder, when they take the side of terrorists, when they march in the street calling for violence, this is the outcome,” AJC CEO Ted Deutch told MSNBC.
Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI) called the killing “a targeted act of antisemitism and terror.”
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) said it was a “direct and deadly result of a relentless global campaign to demonize Jews and Israel.”
“Since October 7, antisemitism has surged across the country,” tweeted the Congress member. “On college campuses, in the streets, and across social media, antisemitism isn’t just spreading — it’s being tolerated, normalized, and even celebrated. It’s disgusting and completely unacceptable.”
“The domestic progressive/intifada movement is going to devolve into the Weather Underground very rapidly, and it’s going to get MUCH worse unless we really crack down on these people,” tweeted NYC Council member Vickie Paladino. “The DSA, WFP, SJP, People’s Forum, and a dozen other leftist political organizations are deeply involved with pushing terrorism. They need to be treated accordingly.”
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) called for a Justice Department investigation into how the suspect was radicalized and what groups he is part of.
“The leftist media’s demonization of the Jews and Israel continues to have deadly consequences,” said the Senator.
The killing and such calls come amid a nationwide crackdown on Palestine activism. At a congressional hearing this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed to deport more student protesters.
“We’re going to do more,” said Rubio. “There are more coming. We’re going to revoke the visas of people who are here as guests and are disrupting our higher education facilities.”