Yaron Lischinsky, a 30-year-old employee at the Israeli embassy, was fatally shot in a potential antisemitic attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C., alongside his girlfriend, 26-year-old Sarah Milgrim. The incident occurred on a Wednesday night, with the alleged gunman, Elias Rodriguez, 31, arrested on the scene. Rodriguez reportedly shouted, “Free, free Palestine,” claiming he acted “for Palestine” and “for Gaza,” according to prosecutors.
In response to the shootings, Jewish leaders in Chicago condemned the act, linking it to a rise in antisemitism tied to protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which were intensified following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. David Goldenberg of the Anti-Defamation League noted that while calls for Palestinian support are not inherently antisemitic, they often devolve into harmful rhetoric against Jews. He emphasized the responsibility of protest leaders to denounce antisemitic language and signs.
FBI agents are investigating Rodriguez’s background, including searching his apartment for evidence that could shed light on his motives.
The tragic event has prompted local officials like Alderman Debra Silverstein to express concern, stating that the attacker’s radicalization likely occurred within Chicago, marking a serious local and national issue. Rodriguez reportedly traveled from Chicago, declaring his firearm in checked baggage when flying to Washington D.C. on United Airlines. Lischinsky’s body is expected to return to Israel for burial, with family and officials from the Israeli Foreign Ministry set to receive his coffin at an undisclosed airport.
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