JC Israel Briefing Day 594: Israel reels from DC shooting - The Jewish Chronicle

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Israel is in mourning after two people who worked at its embassy in Washington — a couple soon to be engaged — were gunned down outside a Jewish museum in the US capital.

Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, both in their late twenties, were shot dead yesterday evening as they left an American Jewish Committee reception.

Lischinsky, who was reportedly German and Christian born and the moved to Israel and converted to Judaism, served in the IDF and studied at Hebrew University. He worked in the embassy’s political department.

Milgrim, a Jewish-American woman, held graduate degrees in international affairs and sustainable development and worked in public diplomacy. The couple had planned to get engaged in Jerusalem next week.

The gunman, identified in US media as Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago, opened fire at close range before entering the museum. He was subdued by security and allegedly shouted “Free Palestine” while in custody. Police said Rodriguez was affiliated with the Party for Socialism and Liberation — a far-left group that had accused Israel of genocide days earlier. He had participated in anti-Israel protests and is under investigation for ideological motivation.

Some Israeli politicians claimed rhetoric in the West has paved the way for such attacks. Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said: “‘Free Palestine’ is not a cry for liberty — it is a cry for murder. Irresponsible leaders in the West have emboldened the forces of terror.” Opposition figure Benny Gantz added: “That’s how this started. Now it ends in murder on American streets.”

President Isaac Herzog condemned the shooting as “a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism.” He said: “The entire People of Israel mourns this heartbreaking loss… Terror and hate will not break us.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered enhanced security at Israeli diplomatic posts worldwide. “We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and the wild incitement against the State of Israel,” he said.

The embassy described them as “friends and colleagues… in the prime of their lives.” Israeli flags were lowered at missions abroad. The Knesset held a moment of silence. Read a full JC report here.

Elsewhere, Israel is preparing to move quickly against Iranian nuclear infrastructure if diplomatic talks collapse, Axios reported citing Israeli sources. The sources said the Israeli intelligence community no longer believes a deal is near, and warned that the operational window for a successful strike may soon close. One said Israel’s military believes waiting further could diminish the impact of any action.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed a Hamas militant during a raid in Bruqin. The IDF said he was behind the May 14 shooting that killed a pregnant Israeli woman in the Bruchin settlement. Several additional suspects linked to the same cell were arrested.

In Gaza, the IDF said it carried out more than 115 airstrikes in 24 hours, targeting tunnels, launch pads, and command posts. Among those killed was Mohammed Shaheen, identified by the military as a Hamas operative involved in the October 7 massacre.

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