Two Israeli embassy workers shot dead outside Jewish museum in Washington, DC

Washington: Two Israeli embassy workers have been shot dead outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, in a major international incident that is likely to have widespread ramifications in the fight against antisemitism.

Police arrested a 30-year-old man from Chicago and said he chanted “free, free Palestine” while in custody.

Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky were employees at the embassy.Credit: @IsraelinUSA/Twitter

The shooting took place shortly after 9pm (11am, Thursday AEST) in downtown Washington, just blocks from police headquarters and steps away from the FBI’s field office. An event for young Jewish diplomats and professionals was taking place at the museum at the time.

Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said the victims were a young couple who were about to become engaged. They were named as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim by the Israeli foreign ministry.

“They were a beautiful couple who came to enjoy an evening in Washington’s cultural centre,” Leiter said.

Police Chief Pamela Smith said the suspect in custody had been “tentatively identified” as Elias Rodriguez, 30. She said he was seen “pacing back and forth” outside the museum before the shooting. The couple were leaving the event when the shooter approached a group of four people and opened fire, she said.

Afterwards, the suspect had entered the museum, where he was detained by event security, Smith said. “Once in handcuffs, the suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered, and he implied that he committed the offence.

“The suspect chanted ‘free, free Palestine’ while in custody,” Smith said. She was not yet aware of what the man was telling police, nor whether he had travelled from Chicago to Washington with criminal intent.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he condemned the murder of the two diplomats in the strongest possible terms.

“This was a brazen act of cowardly, antisemitic violence. Make no mistake: we will track down those responsible and bring them to justice,” he said.

US Attorney-General Pam Bondi, who went to the scene, said she was praying for the victims, while President Donald Trump expressed his condolences.

“These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he was “shocked” by the “horrific, antisemitic” shooting. “We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against Israel,” he said.

Ted Deutch, the chief executive of the American Jewish Committee, which was holding its annual Young Diplomats reception at the museum, said: “We are devastated that an unspeakable act of violence took place outside the venue.”

Leiter, the ambassador, said Lischinsky had purchased a wedding ring this week and had intended to propose to Milgrim next week in Jerusalem.

“I will say this. We are resilient people. The people of Israel are resilient people, and the people of the United States of America are resilient people,” he said.

“Together, we won’t be afraid. Together, we’ll stand, and we’re going to overcome the moral depravity of people who think that they’re going to achieve political gain through murder.”

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, called the shooting a “depraved act of antisemitic terrorism”.

“Harming diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line,” he said on X.

“We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act. Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives – everywhere in the world.”

Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer posted on social media: “This sickening shooting seems to be another horrific instance of antisemitism, which, as we know, is all too rampant in our society. I’m praying for those who were killed, all those affected, and their families.”

There was still a large police and FBI presence at the scene in the early hours of Thursday morning, Washington time. Washington rabbi Levi Shemtov came to the scene after hearing about the shooting, and said he knew the couple.

Rabbi Levi Shemtov at the scene where two Israeli staff members were shot dead outside the Capital Jewish Museum.Credit: Michael Koziol

“They were very popular people,” he said. “I don’t think the killer knew that, I think he just wanted to murder. He wasn’t defending himself, he just came to a place that was identifiably Jewish and took life.”

Wednesday’s shooting is certain to further convulse the US debate over the war in Gaza.

Conservative Israel supporters led by Trump have branded pro-Palestinian demonstrators as antisemitic. Trump has cut off funding to elite US universities that he says have permitted antisemitic demonstrations, and his administration has detained foreign student demonstrators without charges.

Shemtov said the shooting, which has already prompted Israeli missions to beef up their security, would have international implications in the fight against antisemitism.

“I’m sure it already has. Jews shot dead on the street in Washington, DC. That’s never happened before,” he said.

Shemtov said he had lived in Sydney for a couple of years and was familiar with the antisemitic chants during a pro-Palestine rally outside the Sydney Opera House just 48 hours after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

He was critical of the Australian government, saying it was “sort of against antisemitism, but not enough”.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry said it was horrified by the Washington attack, which looked to be an incident of antisemitic terrorism.

Police respond to the shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC.Credit: CBS

“We hope justice is swift and decisive,” said president Daniel Aghion and co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin. “This senseless, brutal and targeted attack again shows us the danger posed to us all by the incitement and violence of the pro-Palestinian movement.”

Zionist Federation of Australia chief executive Alon Cassuto said the brutal murders did not occur in a vacuum.

“For 18 months, we have witnessed a sustained campaign of incitement, demonisation and dehumanisation directed at the State of Israel and the Jewish people,” he said.

“Unchecked rhetoric that promotes hatred and violence has real-world consequences. When a nation and their people are relentlessly vilified, not only does violence become imaginable, but inevitable.”

with Reuters

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