Two Israeli Embassy Staffers Shot Dead in DC – Suspect Chants “Free, Free Palestine”
Two staffers at the Israeli Embassy in D.C. were shot dead outside a Jewish Museum event. The suspect chanted “Free, Free Palestine” when arrested, and reportedly is a far left activist from Chicago.
Two staffers at the Israeli Embassy in D.C. were shot dead outside a Jewish Museum event. The suspect chanted “Free, Free Palestine” when arrested, and reportedly is a far left activist from Chicago.
As with all such breaking news, sometimes initial reports are inaccurate, so use caution. We will only post information we believe to be reliable.
CNN reports on the basics of the attack:
Two Israeli Embassy staff members were shot and killed by a gunman who later yelled “Free Palestine!” while being arrested in Washington, DC, Wednesday night, authorities said.
The slain staffers, who the Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs named as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were a couple who officials say were soon to be engaged.
The two were attending an event for young professionals at the Capital Jewish Museum hosted by the American Jewish Committee. At around 9 p.m. outside the museum, they were approached by a gunman who opened fire and killed them, officials said.
The suspect, whom DC police identified as 30-year-old Chicago native Elias Rodriguez, pretended to be a bystander after the shooting, an eyewitness told CNN.
When police arrived, the man turned himself in and shouted “Free, Free Palestine” while being handcuffed. He is currently in custody, according to authorities. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said the man “implied that he committed the offense.”
The NY Times adds:
Israel’s foreign ministry identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. Mr. Lischinsky, 30 was a research assistant in the political department at the embassy and Ms. Milgrim, 26, organized trips to Israel, according to the ministry.
Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador, said at the news conference that the two people killed were a couple about to be engaged. “The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem,” he said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel was “outraged” by the killings and had ordered stronger security for Israeli diplomatic missions around the world, his office said. He described the killings as a product of antisemitism that some Israeli officials said had been rising since the Israeli military went to war against Hamas in Gaza following the militant group’s deadly attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
“This is the direct result of toxic antisemitic incitement against Israel and Jews around the world that has been going on since the Oct. 7 massacre,” Gideon Saar, Israel’s foreign minister, said at a news conference in Jerusalem on Thursday.
“He grabbed a red kaffiyeh out of his pocket and started a ‘Free Palestine’ chant, ‘there’s only one solution, Intifada revolution.’” https://t.co/olRH74c55s pic.twitter.com/esM31n998L
— The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) May 22, 2025
Footage showing 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez yelling “Free Palestine” while being taken into custody by D.C. Metro Police, after shooting and killing two staffers of the Israeli Embassy outside of the Capital Jewish Museum tonight in Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/pOyIawAMVn
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 22, 2025
Elias Rodriguez is a reported member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, holding a Marxist @answercoalition sign at a Chicago protest. I’ve been warning endlessly about these groups since 10/7 because the data clearly shows: they are in an unholy alliance with Islamists,… pic.twitter.com/fSySnE9XN6
— Asra Nomani (@AsraNomani) May 22, 2025
Yaron Lischinsky was the finest friend I’ve ever had, brilliant, kind, and endlessly thoughtful. A devout Christian and a gifted linguist, he spoke German, Hebrew, and Japanese. He was full of curiosity and always brimming with ideas. I don’t think we ever had a conversation that… pic.twitter.com/mSnliw9SkD
— Zineb Riboua (@zriboua) May 22, 2025
yaron lischinsky, born in Germany, was a Christian and a great lover of Israel. He made Aliyah, served in the IDF, and dedicated his life to the State of Israel and Zionism.
A remarkable life story of moral clarity – a Righteous Among the Nations in our time, who chose to bind… pic.twitter.com/eFj8fViA2b
— raz sauber – רז זאובר (@raz_sauber_) May 22, 2025
Yaron and Sarah— working together at the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C.— were murdered in a terrorist attack outside the Jewish Museum.
A young couple with a bright future planning their life together.Yaron, born in Nuremberg, wasn’t just a colleague.
I had the privilege of… pic.twitter.com/0fu3usprAF— Ambassador Ron Prosor (@Ron_Prosor) May 22, 2025
Breaking: @kenklippenstein got hold of the Israeli embassy shooter’s alleged manifesto.
I don’t usually share such things—but this is different.
It’s irrefutable proof that terrorist disinformation doesn’t just spread online. It spills into the real world—and it kills🧵 pic.twitter.com/3EA589GiJR
— Eitan Fischberger (@EFischberger) May 22, 2025
The two diplomats murdered in Washington DC were both Messianic Jews (Christians) who were planning to get married.
Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim.
May their memory be eternal. pic.twitter.com/d72nOKM84t— Ridvan Aydemir | Apostate Prophet 🎗 (@ApostateProphet) May 22, 2025
REACTIONS
PM Netanyahu:
"My heart grieves for the families of the young beloveds, whose lives were cut short in a moment by an abhorrent antisemitic murderer.I have directed that security be increased at Israeli missions around the world and for the state's representatives."
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 22, 2025
And this is why every event in Jewish life vets attendees, and only sends you the location right before the event, and every synagogue spends a small fortune on security, and your trunk is checked for bombs when you park at the JCC, and the community feels constantly besieged… https://t.co/VVeXdHl5py
— Antonio García Martínez (agm.eth) (@antoniogm) May 22, 2025
Let keffiyeh-clad radicals target Jews with impunity. Let Jew-haters dominate culture and social media unchecked. Demonize a people hunted globally by terrorists supported by Islamists from Tehran to Doha.
Then act shocked when Jews are murdered in the streets of D.C.
— Mark Dubowitz (@mdubowitz) May 22, 2025
You literally cheered on a crowd at Columbia last year that was chanting 'Globalize the Intifada'.
What the fuck did you think they meant? https://t.co/piTtF5qHE6
— Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D. (@neoavatara) May 22, 2025
Senator, please spare us your crocodile tears.
You have been a major contributor to the demonization of Israel in the political discourse.
Your false accusations against Israel lead to poisoned minds and acts of violence against Jews. https://t.co/rAVQSNckHP
— Josh Block (@JoshBlockDC) May 22, 2025
Last night's shooting was an attack on Jews, period.
(1) The event was not an Israeli event or even a pro-Israel event, it was an event for young Jews interested in foreign affairs sponsored by the American Jewish Congress (AJC). A close relative of mine, who is not Israeli and…— David Bernstein (@ProfDBernstein) May 22, 2025
This you? https://t.co/dHYbXi0lmH pic.twitter.com/ntIMdrhBV2
— Emily Zanotti 🦝 (@emzanotti) May 22, 2025
[This post has been updated throughout the day]
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Comments
Disgusting. The vile, stupid and evil European, leftist dhimmis and American Dhimmi-crats are responsible for creating such terrorists, with their dutiful, dishonest and rabid promotion of contrived and fallacious Islamofascist/Muslim supremacist/Muslim terrorist victimhood/grievance propaganda mythologies, and, their non-stop, dishonest and vicious vilification of Israel and Israeli Jews.
The Dhimmi-crats have intentionally created a climate where Jew-hate, Israel-hate and violence against Israeli Jews is rationalized, whitewashed and lionized as allegedly righteous and laudable “Resistance,” while genocidal Islamofascism/Muslim supremacism is similarly rationalized, dismissed and whitewashed under the banner of alleged “social justice.”
But we are the Nazis. Always remember no matter what evil they are doing or aligning themselves with they are the good guys.
The lady who took the video of that monster was on Fox this morning.
Katie Kalisher…
Shocking and terrible, a prime example of why the antisemitism that has been brewing for years in higher ed and elsewhere needs to be countered, needs to be removed whenever, wherever possible.
What we really need is to start large scale removal from America, Islam is NOT compatible with our values, neither are Marxists.
Unfortunately, this is the inevitable outcome of years of growing tolerance for antisemitism. Fire up the electric chair.
Have Luigi sit in his lap. 2 for 1 sale!
It’s rather odd. Used to be a thing far more on the right than left.
Horrible news.
What a lovely couple who have been denied their lives. So sad. Prayers to them and their families.
We now have unchecked terrorism roaming the streets of our Capital.
It was only a matter of time for the Democratic Party sycophants of the anti-Jewish Muslims fascists to reap the benefits of their encouragement to “Globalize the Intifada.”
Ivy League Universities, the US Courts, the Democrats, and the RINOs are all responsible for this act of violence. Their failure to hold Islamofascists in check is the reason for this.
The Democrats “hate the Jews, Love the Islamofascists” love fest is responsible.
The Judiciary, from the states through the Supreme Court, prevent our administration from removing these hateful people.
The Democrats and the RINOs who white wash this are responsible for this, then cry crocodile tears when people are assassinated.
Although there’s no way to have removed the actual shooter.
Dear Chief,
Everything I see here at this time is a reference to terrorism.
I am reminded of Johnny Walker. He was prosecuted as an enemy combatant. He is an American citizen, served 20 years recently released.
I view this reported incident as a uniformed, enlisted enemy combatant. This is not for civilian courts. This is a war crime regardless of location of combat.
Am I wrong. I am looking for the Legal jurisdiction of a case of this sort.
I come here for the legal opinions, Professor Jacobson is my hero.
I admire many, I particularly appreciate your participation.
TU.
So a guy from Chicago shot and killed two people in dc. I guess gun control in both cities are working well.
A Chicago man?
Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador, said at the news conference that the two people killed were a couple about to be engaged. “The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem,” he said.
———————————————————
So sad……
Damn you Claire Shipman.
Evil is loose in the world and Spiritual sickness follows.
Well they got what they wanted more globalizing the intifada; which has always meant kill Jews and anyone who goes near anything Jewish. The Argentinians can attest to this and now so can we. Yet nothing will be done the media will try to hide the motivation and paint the killer as a victim.
Unfortunately, it’s only a matter of time until the ‘Globalize the Intifada’ crowd pick even softer targets in the US. The very sad reality is if you’re Jewish, you’re not safe in this country (or any country) anymore.
The sick irony is this couple wasn’t even Jewish. They were devout Christians, a painful reminder that no one is safe when Islamic terrorists, their sympathizers and enablers are around
https://x.com/zriboua/status/1925494441344667797
How ironic that they lived in a country at war & subject to near daily terror attacks (or attempted attacks), most of which you don’t read about in the U.S., but were murdered by a terrorist in the U.S. Safety is a relevant term.
Some are naming their children “Jihad.” I kid you not.
It is past time to begin serious investigations of those loons drawn to terrorist groups. When folks are acting to make public statements or actions in support of terrorists, genocide, or other twisted ideology they should be flagged at minimum. When they cross the line into illegal actions in support of those things they gotta be investigated earlier before they move from nonviolent acts to violence.
I never thought, growing up in the suburbs north of Chicago, that I would be unsafe on the streets in my country for being Jewish.
There were parts of Niles I tried to avoid.
Highland Park 😉
I’ve never felt unsafe being Jewish no matter where I’ve lived. While I have a Jewish last name I don’t “look” Jewish and don’t have a strong accent. I still feel safe today at least as I Jew.
I give it 15-20 years before the US is like Europe where I don’t believe it is safe in many areas for Jews. Run one more generation through the increasingly antisemitic government school system and college and the general antisemitism will be much much higher especially if random Jews like Milken, Epstein, Weinstein, Bankman Fried keep popping up.
I see this migrating to college campuses. There will be firearms and other things in the encampments,
Law enforcement will do nothing, either because administrators demand soft treatment, or, they will have their orders from the city politicians.
‘there’s only one solution, Intifada revolution.’
I pray you discover soon that there are actually two.
Palestine is a fictional construct of muslim conquest wars
There’s no more imagining if the situation flipped. Leftist terrorists are here. Will the media downplay?
Will he get hundreds of thousands of dollars through a gofundme me?
This is where we’re at folks…
Act accordingly
If you are a Jewish US citizen and have not already done this, it is long past time to do so:
Learn to shoot. Learn how to use a handgun, both pistols and revolvers. Learn how to use a rifle. Learn how to use a shotgun. Get training, get practice, and then buy one of each of them and train with them regularly. Get a carry permit from your state…and if your collectivist state doesn’t issue them to ordinary citizens, move to a state that DOES. Then CARRY that frickin’ handgun with you everywhere it is legal to do so.
Yes, it’s a pain in the rear, but that beats the heck out of being dead. I carry everywhere I go, even though here in NW Wyoming there’s a much higher likelihood of being assaulted by a 4-legged animal than one of these 2-legged collectivist animals. Practice regularly with your carry gun until it becomes second nature. I knew I was used to carrying when I stepped out the door with all my gear (including pistol and spare mag) but had forgotten to put on shoes.
“Never again” doesn’t mean a damned thing unless you are PERSONALLY ready to do something about it. The government cannot and will not take responsibility for your safety, so it’s up to you.
I’m not Jewish, but anybody who is, and isn’t armed 24/7/365 everywhere it’s legal is an idiot. Of course, I feel that way about EVERYBODY, but these days Jews seem to be, as always, the particular scapegoat and target for the collectivists. See what is happening and be prepared.
whats your edc for the 4 legged?
I prefer the glock10
OC spray works fine… and weighs less.
Never got further than a pistol in .40 S&W. Then came aliyah & couldn’t bring it or the .22 Single Six. Highest & best use of a rifle in my hands is to hold it with both hands near the muzzle & swing the stock at the other guy’s head.
“Never again” doesn’t mean a damned thing unless you are PERSONALLY ready to do something about it. The government cannot and will not take responsibility for your safety, so it’s up to you.
________________________________________________________________________________
exactly–is not in the nature of many people to commit acts of violence–shooting, stabbing, hitting another individual and is a normal hurdle to those who should seek training to defend themselves/others–though not a natural trait it has become a necessity, a skill or ability to possess to protect/defend if not yourself then your loved ones / other innocents–there may come a time in this life when you are the ONLY ONE who can act to save yourself/your loved ones/other innocents and preparing yourself for such an event is no longer an option either in israel or here in the us
This thing worked for History Makers in Chicago. I see they took his bio down. I guess he fulfilled his mission.
Yeah, this guy his a bona fide, card-carrying member of the activist, progressive left. History Makers has a long history with PBS. I would love to see a forensic accounting of their funding. I suspect MUCH of it has come from government grants, state and federal.
I have a friend from SoCal, retired now. She and her husband spend most of their time in Israel now, where her son and his family reside. She said she feels safer living in Israel, despite the war and random terrorists attacks, than she does when they return to Irvine, CA (routinely ranked as one of the U.S. safest cities). Their Irvine synagogue is, by necessity, a fortress.
of course
america is run by the black matriarchy now
Same here & I was living somewhere a lot safer than Irvine.
Misread your comment but the city where I lived was still considered relatively safe.
Reporters MUST ASK DC LOSER MAYOR BOWSER
do you find it incompatible to say you want to protect the Israeli embassy and jews in dc when you sided with the
blmplo faction who clearly incite the supporters to do what one of their heros just did!!??
palestine is free
they choose to be locked up by their own hatred
+1,000. Exactly right. Residents of Gaza and the West Bank are oppressed only by corrupt, wicked and genocidal Islamofascist/Muslim supremacist ideology, and, the terrorist thug leaders who squander international aid money on weapons, materiel and terrorist infrastructure, and, who ceaselessly promote violence in the name of Islamic “holy war” — knowing full-well that predictable poverty, strife, misery and oppression will ensue, as a result.
But they are taught since infancy that all their problems & all the world’s evils are caused by The Jews.
The leftist/Dhimmi-crat-Islamofascist (“Red-Green”) alliance is as manifestly evil and dangerous a threat to global peace and freedom, today, as German National Socialism was, during the 1930’s and 1940’s.
This is unfortunately the result of incitement by the mainstream media, hard left, and the far right (i.e. Tucker Carlson).
have to admit carlson has been wrong when he says that israel is purposefully without merti hurting the plo by starving the children
its the plo hamasholes who are causing the war as its clear to see
him giving a platform isnt a bother as long as he would support the rights of people to not be attacked like israel has put up with
There’s a difference between not giving full-throated support to Israel and calling for its destruction and the death of Jews. Carlson is not pro-Hamas or pro-“Palestine.”
The left hates Jews because of Israel and the Arabs. The msm is associated with them. The far right hates Jews because Jews have championed many social movements (immigration, civil rights, gay rights, socialism, feminism) they despise and feel threatened by to a greater or lesser extent. The far right also feels threatened by Jewish prominence in society in general especially in fields like finance, politics, entertainment, and media, The far is nasty. They are ugly ugly people,
Of the two I feel the left is much more dangerous. Their movement is bigger and collectively they are violent, I’ve never thought the far right was large in numbers and I thought all the talk of white nationalism was laughable. They are more likely to hide in the basement and scurry around but I believe individually they can be dangerous.
Some enterprising conservative blog should add up all the acts of violence perpetrated by members of the progressive left & Transtifa since Biden gave his now infamous speech in Philadelphia about the biggest threat to America: MAGA’s White Nationalism.
https://www.thereligionofpeace.com/
I wonder when or even if the Jewish people will react with equal violence as their own are attacked, and now executed, even within in the US. I wonder why the Israeli government shows humanity toward the Palestinian people who have worked for so many years to destroy the Israelis? Why did not the allies show such humanity for the civilian populations of the Axis powers during WW2? Could it be that the world believes Jewish people are somehow less worthy of humanity than the rest or us? There are times it sure seems so.
photos showing the murderer with his blmplo buddies in the streets marching for their brand of “justice”
no denying this no matter how hard the msm will try
Rep. Ilhan Omar dismissed a reporter asking her to comment on the deadly shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum overnight.
The pro-Palestinian congresswoman when asked about the tragedy brushed-off of the reporter’s query.
‘Congresswoman Omar, can I get your reaction to the shooting that happened in DC last night?’ a reporter asked outside the Capitol on Thursday morning.
The progressive Minnesota representative responded nonchalantly as she was walking: ‘I’m going to go for now.’
She then briskly walked away from the cameras and reporters.
dmail
As she walked away she was heard to whisper, “Somebody did something.”
American Jews and their non-Jewish supporters should stop talking about how terrible antisemitism has become but instead focus on how to stop and or dish out legal punishment to the funders of the antisemites. These include Tides Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates , Rockefeller Brothers Foundation, the Ford Foundation, Pritzkers and others. Miscreant, self hating Jews like the Jewish Voice for Peace and similar organizations should be harassed, sued if that is feasible, and make their lives as miserable as possible. Hearing about how terrible Jews are being treated is a waste of time
Unfortunately it is not going to happen. At least half the Jewish population in the US is progressive. Exit polling showed 79% of Jews voted for Harris, an unbelievable number. I find these numbers very depressing and they don’t bode well for Jews in the US or the US-Israel relationship. Israel should start weaning itself off US aid and differentiating themselves from US policy for their own good.
The dedication to the Holocaust card is what freezes all this in perpetual rhetorical crap.
Killing Jews is the logical expression of the Palestinian Holocaust card (you’re oppressing us more than we’re oppressing you), and serves to solidify the Jewish Holocaust card position (you’re oppressing us more than we’re oppressing you).
The problem isn’t antisemitism. It’s lack of seeing the moral argument for a difference between Palestinians and Jews in their behavior.
Forget the Holocaust card and its little mini-Holocaust cards, of which this incident is just one. Both sides use it in the oppression battle, is all.
Wanting peace will not break through. Wanting peace is why Israel offers trade to Palestine, but it’s not the wanting that matters. It’s the offer of trade that matters. Tout it in its relation to morality, not in its relation to feelings.
They were Christians.
Just a feeling, but this strikes me as something that is going to demand a kinetic Israeli response.
Subotai Bahadur
I hope they start servicing targets in the US. This idiocy has gone far enough.
Your parallels on the war with gaza to the holocaust is in itself insane , stupid and antisemitism. The war in Gaza is not a genocide nor a holocaust or Israel wouldn’t be taking so long to fight and killing and so many of their own people to rescue so few. The Germans weren’t kidnapped, murdered and raped by the Jews. The Germans just killed Jews because they hated them.Stop playing the holocaust card yourself and making morally bankrupt but advantageous comparisons so you can excuse the evil of the shoah. Just admit it ; you hate Jews and enjoy watching this hateful propaganda spread; since you seem so determined to spread it yourself.
Elias Rodriguez is a modern day Herschel Grynszpan. His motivations are political, not antisemitism. If he wanted to kill Jews, he could have traveled a few miles up to West Rogers Park on Friday afternoon, rather than 700 miles to DC.
There does need to be more clear distinctions drawn between antisemitism, anti Zionism, criticism of Israeli Gov’t.actions, calls.for destruction of Israel/genocide of the Israeli people. Some seem to conflate those. In this case the gunman seems both anti Zionist and antisemitic as he choose random targets at the Capital Jewish Museum at an event hosted by the American Jewish Council and odds are he was seeking Jewish targets. If not then why not shoot up something else? The simplest explanation is he sought to kill Jews at a location and an event where there presumably be many Jews in attendance. More facts might change that but for now the simplest explanation seems appropriate.
His motivation is clearly antisemitism . He chose a Jewish Musuem to make a statement. There have been pro hamas demonstrations at that very Musuem . He wrote a manifesto saying he wanted to destroy zionists meaning Jews of course. Stop splitting hairs antzionism is antisemitism . If only Jews aren’t allowed sovereignty but everyone else can have it, like Pakistanis and Armenians and Afghanis and the Irish ; then you are an antisemite. Antisemitism led to the rebirth of Jewish sovereignty in the holy land not the other way around. If there wasn’t any antisemitism then there wouldn’t have been a need for Israel. Continued antisemitism simply proves the original zionists as being correct.
I agree that the gunman was was both antisemitic and anti Zionist. Dude.seems to very clearly have targeted a location and event where the attendance would be largely Jewish.
I disagree that anti Zionist = antisemitism b/c the reverse would also have to be true. I could see where some jackass could hold and express an antisemitic philosophy that ‘Jews should all go ‘home’ to.Israel’ and his clear antisemitism not only isn’t anti Zionist but is pro Zionist though expressed in a horribly antisemitic and exclusionary way. Similar to calls by some that African Americans should go back to Africa and Liberia in particular. Clearly anti African American sentiment but also demands by necessity the existence of a ‘place’ for them to go.