A manifesto posted in the name of the only suspect in the killing of two Israeli embassy staffers on Wednesday evening appears to lay out his motives, claiming that the murders were “the only sane thing to do”.
The shooting of Yaron Lichinsky and Sarah Milgrim outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC has been dubbed an act of “antisemitic terrorism” by the Israeli ambassador.
Elias Rodriguez, 30, is currently being questioned by DC police after he was detained at the scene while chanting “free, free Palestine”, according to DC Police Chief Pamela Smith.
The JC can reveal that a letter posted on what seems to be Rodriguez’ X account and signed in his name claimed he wanted to “bring the war home”.
The letter, shared in two posts on the night of the attack and discovered by investigative group Gnasher Jew, was titled "Escalate for Gaza, bring the war home".
It sought to offer an "explication" for his actions.
The letter allegedly shared by the shooter before the attack (Photo: X)[Missing Credit]
Sections of the lengthy text, which was dated May 20, included "public opinion has shifted against the genocidal state" and praised former soldier Aaron Bushell, who self-immolated outside the Israeli embassy in protest at the war, saying his "sacrifice was not made in vain".
It quoted the number of dead Palestinians, based on figures from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, and suggested the total figure could be higher. The data has consistently been revised down by the ministry itself and has been debunked repeatedly as overestimated.
“We who let this happen will never deserve the Palestinians’ forgiveness. They’re let us know as much,” the letter stated.
It went on: “Inhumanity has long since shown itself to be shockingly common, mundane, prosaically human. A perpetrator may then be a loving parent, a filial child, a generous and charitable friend... and yet be a monster all the same.
Apparently alluding to the impending murder, it added: "The action would have been morally justified taken 11 years ago...around the time I personally became acutely aware of our brutal conduct in Palestine.
"But I think to most Americans, such an action would have been illegible, would seem insane.
"I am glad that, today at least, there are many Americans for which the action will be highly legible and, in some funny way, the only sane thing to do."
The letter concluded, “I love you Mom, Dad, baby sis, the rest of my familia, including you, O*****. Free Palestine.”
