Latest news with #EliasRodriguez
Fox News
a day ago
- General
- Fox News
Israeli diplomat warns radicalism is an American problem after deadly DC shooting
Deputy Consul General of Israel in New York, Tsach Saar, is sending a warning to America after the deadly shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers in D.C.: Radicalism isn't just a problem for Israelis and Jews — it's a problem for all Americans. "It's not an Israeli problem and not a Jewish problem, it's an American problem. These people who incite, who call for violence, who use antisemitic rhetoric, at the end of the day, they are shaking the pillars of American democracy," Saar told Fox News Digital. The diplomat also spoke about the phrase "globalize the Intifada," a slogan that has become more common at anti-Israel demonstrations. Saar says the phrase refers to those seeking to export violence beyond the Middle East to places like America, making the D.C. shooting much more than a local tragedy. "Intifada is a direct call for violence against Jews. So, we have violence on American soil, we have division in American society. It weakens the American democracy and that puts it very, very high on the agenda for Americans themselves. And I have to tell you, people that I speak with, they know exactly what I'm talking about and they understand how severe the problem is. And now it's time for action," he said. Elias Rodriguez, the suspect in the fatal shooting of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky outside the Capital Jewish Museum, was heard chanting "free, free Palestine" during his arrest. This prompted renewed discussions about the rhetoric used in anti-Israel demonstrations in the wake of the Oct. 7 massacre and resulting war in Gaza. College campuses, which became hotspots for anti-Israel agitators after Oct. 7, have heard this kind of rhetoric, with one of the epicenters being Columbia University in New York. Saar told Fox News Digital that it's clear that not just Jewish and Israeli students, but also those who express pro-Israel views feel "unsafe" on campuses across the country. While Saar acknowledged that America's First Amendment "is sacred," he warned that there is a difference between expressing one's viewpoint and inciting violence. Even as Jews and Israelis feel unsafe, Saar does not think the answer is to hide who they are, but rather to unite and "resist by all legal means" those who use lies and hateful rhetoric to incite violence. "The answer is not hiding our stars [of David], we should be proud of who we are," Saar said. He added that he had seen individuals on social media expressing support for the murders of Milgrim and Lischinsky. Antisemitism has been on the rise in the U.S. since Hamas carried out its attacks against Israel in October 2023. In April, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released its annual audit on antisemitism in which it identified 9,354 antisemitic incidents in the U.S. during 2024, marking a 5% increase from 2023. This was the fourth year in a row that the organization noted a record-breaking number of antisemitic incidents across the country.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Days after gunshots and death, Capital Jewish Museum reopens with purpose
With faith leaders, city officials and supporters crowding into the sun-splashed glass lobby Thursday morning, the Capital Jewish Museum reopened after it was the scene of a violent killing last week. A Chicago man shot and killed Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, on May 21 as they were leaving an event for young diplomats at the museum, located at the corner of Third and F streets NW. Elias Rodriguez, 31, was arrested at the scene and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and murder of foreign officials. According to an affidavit filed in federal court, Rodriguez told police, 'I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.'
Fox News
3 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Jewish Republican lawmaker talks antisemitism in America after deadly DC shooting
The deadly shooting outside Washington, D.C.'s Capital Jewish Museum has added to an ongoing conversation about antisemitism after Hamas' brutal Oct. 7 massacre. Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were killed when leaving an event at the museum hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC). The suspected shooter, Elias Rodriguez, has since been charged with their murders. Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tenn., is one of only four Jewish Republicans serving in Congress, placing him in a unique position when it comes to assessing antisemitism in America and how it has been politicized. "We know that antisemitism has been around for a very long time, and obviously, after October 7, 2023, it came to the forefront. It came out as strongly as it did, in part because colleges and universities allowed some pro-Palestinian and frankly some pro-Hamas protesters to preach hate and antisemitism—and they didn't do anything to stop it," Kustoff told Fox News Digital. The Tennessee congressman condemned the shooting in D.C., calling it "a horrific act of antisemitic terrorism." "Antisemitic violence has no place in our society. We must remain united in calling out and confronting this rising tide of hate," Kustoff wrote in a post on X. Kustoff said that in his district, which he described as "strongly Republican, strongly pro-Trump," there aren't many Jewish people. In fact, according to World Population Review, just under 30,000 Jews live in Tennessee, which has more than 7.3 million residents. Despite the small Jewish population, Kustoff told Fox News Digital that people in his district are "very supportive of Israel, very supportive of the U.S.'s relationship with Israel, and they love the Jewish people." However, Kustoff also said that Jewish people in his district have "real concerns about going to synagogue." Jewish institutions and community centers have had "to go above and beyond" in terms of security, according to Kustoff. The congressman spoke about an incident in 2023 when a man opened fire outside the Margolin Hebrew Academy-Feinstone Yeshiva of the South. The suspect was later identified as Joel Alejandro Bowman, who faces several charges, including attempted second-degree murder. Kustoff sees the issue of combating antisemitism as one that has received bipartisan support in Congress. He praised Democrats like Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., and Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill. — who are Jewish — for their support of Israel and its relationship with the U.S., calling them "true leaders." Kustoff also noted that, while they are not Jewish, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., have been vocal about their support for Israel. While Kustoff praised colleagues on both sides of the aisle, he also criticized members of Congress who have made "incendiary" remarks about Israel, saying such rhetoric "in effect helps to breed antisemitism." Kustoff spoke to Fox News Digital shortly after a video of outspoken Israel critic Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., refusing to condemn the murders of Lischinsky and Milgrim went viral. When asked about the incident, Kustoff said that "We get asked easy questions and difficult questions all the time as members of Congress. That was clearly an easy question to answer, and her constituents can make their own decisions." As chairman of the House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group, Kustoff has had a close-up view of U.S.-Israel relations. He recalled his July 2024 trip to Israel, where he toured the site of the Nova Music Festival and a kibbutz that was attacked on Oct. 7, and met with Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "[Netanyahu] told me that he knows that the American people are still very supportive of Israel and the Israeli people know that," Kustoff told Fox News Digital. "We talked about the instances on college campuses. In closing, his feeling was that a number of these students probably couldn't look at a map and know where Israel is located."
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Alleged killer of Jewish diplomats was obsessed with whites and and white genocide, leaked texts reveal
The accused killer of two Jewish diplomats was obsessed with white people and white genocide. Elias Rodriguez said in text messages to friends that 'you probably would have to actually genocide white people to make this a normal country.' 'Like even a very targeted and selective rehabilitation program would probably have to lead to the lifetime imprisonments of tens of millions of white people,' he went on. The messages - posted a week after the couple were shot dead in Washington DC - were obtained by journalist Ken Klippenstein. Rodriguez, a 31-year-old Chicago native, was arrested on May 21 after he allegedly opened fire on Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrime 21 times outside the Capital Jewish Museum. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The couple, who were set to get engaged just a week from their deaths, had attended a Young Diplomats event before they were shot that night. During his arrest, Rodriguez was hysterically hauled away while shouting: 'Free, free Palestine,' as he squirmed against an officers' grip. Now, a week after the senseless attack, text messages sent in a group chat from Rodriguez revealed his disturbing obsession with the specific demographic. 'Lol you probably would have to actually genocide white people to make this a normal country,' Rodriguez wrote to friends in a group chat. 'Like even a very targeted and selective rehabilitation program would probably have to lead to the lifetime imprisonments of tens of millions of white people,' he went on. White genocide is a conspiracy theory that claims there is a deliberate plot to cause mass extinction of white people through violence, immigration, and forced assimilation. Friends of the alleged killer claim he 'never, ever said anything remotely racist about Jews or anyone.' But he harbored a strong hatred of Israel, they contend. 'He was a big proponent of "the emerging resistance axis" of Russia, Iran, Hezbollah, Assad's Syria,' one claimed. 'He seemed pretty vocally in favor of Hamas for years — way before 2023,' the pals added. 'He'd always hated Israel and would call it "The Little Satan." ' In other messages to his peers, Rodriguez professed his sadness over the murders of two prominent Hamas leaders - Hassan Nasrallah and Yahya Sinwar. 'Honestly I'm still just feeling sad about the murder of Hassan Nasrallah,' Rodriguez wrote. 'It hurts when people are killed specifically for doing what's right, when so many are afraid to…' After the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a video of the killing of Sinwar - the former chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau - he told the chat: '100% him sadly.' During his arrest, Rodriguez also expressed praise for Aaron Bushnell, the U.S. airman who set himself on fire outside the Israel Embassy - where Lischinsky and Milgrime worked. 'Just now saw the unblurred video and lost it,' Rodriguez told the group in reference to the horrific video of Bushnell setting himself ablaze. Although his messages did not appear to mention anything about murder, Rodriguez's friends told Klippenstein he seemed nicer in the weeks just before. Only one post by Rodriguez revealed what he did the day before the shooting. He told his friends that he met and shook the hand of Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois who was impeached and convicted for public corruption. After being behind bars for nearly eight years, Blagojevich was pardoned by President Donald Trump earlier this year. When a friend replied, asking if Blagojevich was the ambassador to Serbia, Rodriguez responded: 'Lmao is he? ' After reading a link to an article stating that Trump had considered Blagojevich for the position, Rodriguez added: 'Hilarious.' Meanwhile, has revealed that Rodriguez has a live-in girlfriend. The 'manifesto' he allegedly wrote the day before the killings ended with the words 'I love you Mom, Dad, baby sis, the rest of my familia, including you, O*****.' Rodriguez and the woman – who is believed to have the last name Oliver – moved into a modest Chicago apartment two years ago. The exact number of asterisks were used to match the remaining letters in the name Oliver in the screed about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. Neighbor John Fry, 71, said Rodriguez's girlfriend mysteriously vanished shortly before the fatal shooting. 'There was a young woman, although I haven't seen her for a couple of weeks now,' Fry added. 'I can't say exactly when she left.' 'I'm guessing she was in her late 20s, about 5ft 3in tall, dark hair. Nothing special about her build. Difficult to really describe her much after that. 'I don't know why she apparently hasn't been around.' 'They were a really quiet couple. Although in these apartment buildings people only tend to just say "hi" to each other, not much more than that,' said Fry. 'I didn't exchange that many words with her.' The shocking double slaying was far from the first time Israeli foreign hubs have been targeted by terrorists. Since 1969, there have been at least 31 terrorist attacks on Israeli embassies or diplomatic staffers around the world, according to Fox News. The murders came amid rising global protests over Israel's treatment of civilians in Gaza.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
The Bulletin May 22, 2025
The rundown: Two Israeli embassy staff were shot dead as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, by a suspect who shouted "free, free Palestine" as he was arrested, police said. Find out more about the incident. Why it matters: Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said the suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, was observed pacing outside the museum before the shooting, walked into the museum after the shooting, and was detained by event security. Smith said authorities believe the gunman acted alone. Around 9:08 p.m., calls came in to police regarding the shooting, according to the chief, saying one adult male and one adult female were pronounced dead. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the suspect "a vile antisemitic murderer" in a statement released by his office, and said he was increasing security for Israeli officials all around the world. Read more in-depth coverage: Trump Responds to Israeli Embassy Staff Killings in DC: 'Must End' TL/DR: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser in a news conference late Wednesday night said that she will not tolerate acts of antisemitism in the city, adding that the deadly gunfire may frighten a lot of people. What happens now? Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X, 'We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share. Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice.' Deeper reading Israeli Embassy Staff Killed in DC Shooting: 'Antisemitic Terrorism'
