It has been almost six hundred days since the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel resulted in the death of 1,200 people. The world has indeed shifted gears when it comes to Israel and the Jewish people. History books will remember October 7, 2023, as the day when everything changed for Modern Israel and global Jews. Just like there is a pre-Holocaust and post-Holocaust Jewish history, there will be a pre-October 7 and post-October 7 modern Israel history. In the meantime, Jews are being murdered!
The world woke up to the news on Thursday of yet another killing of Jews, this time in Washington, DC. This was a terror attack; this was antisemitism, and this was murder! Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, both on staff at the Israeli Embassy in DC, were about to be engaged. They were also the epitome of peace-seeking and interfaith dialogue. They were attending an event at a Jewish museum when the shooter, Elias Rodriguez, killed them both and shouted “I did it for Gaza, Free, Free Palestine” as the police apprehended him.
This was pure antisemitic evil, but this time it’s different, and we need to pay attention because it has opened the door to more opportunities for Jews to get hurt or murdered all around the world. It is not another radical Islam crime. It is a result of the continual normalization of antisemitism that we have been witnessing over the last couple of years. Words chanted such as “Free Palestine” or “Globalize the Intifada” eventually led to blood being shed, and this is exactly the outcome of Wednesday evening’s attacks.
Elias Rodriguez is a Hispanic young man from Chicago and apparently the member of a radical Leftist group (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.) The world is used to and sometimes somewhat desensitized to radical Muslim antisemitism. This is not to say that all Muslims are antisemitic, but the truth is that until recently, most violent acts of antisemitism around the world were perpetrated by radicalized Muslims. Hamas is no different, but somehow, their rallying cry against Israel is resonating with more people outside of Islam. Case in point, Rodriguez is not a Muslim, and yet, as he was taken by the police, he shouted, “I did it for Gaza, Free, Free Palestine.” Antisemitism has become an equal opportunity killer, way beyond the radical Islamist circles.
Elias Rodriguez appeared to have planned his killing, and he carefully waited to be apprehended to shout his statement. He showed no remorse. On the contrary, he appeared full of pride as he shouted his venomous cry in front of the cameras. He was unknown to the police. He not only waited to be apprehended before yelling “Free Palestine”, but he first shot people outside and then got inside the museum, appearing as a victim before he spoke up and was consequently detained. As he wore his red keffiyeh (Middle East head covering popularized by Yasir Arafat), he sent a 2025 message no different than those who wore a swastika during World War II.
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