Israeli Embassy Staffers’ Murder in D.C. Linked to Campus Antisemitism Surge

A horrific shooting in Washington, D.C., claimed the lives of two Israeli Embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, a couple on the cusp of engagement. The suspect, 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, was arrested and charged with their murders, shouting "Free, free Palestine" during his apprehension—a chilling echo of anti-Israel rhetoric heard on college campuses. The attack, which unfolded at the Capital Jewish Museum, has sparked a fierce debate about the roots of such violence.

Journalist Batya Ungar-Sargon, appearing on CNN, didn’t mince words: this tragedy is a direct outgrowth of the antisemitism festering in academic circles. She pointed to a culture that dehumanizes Jews, fueled by rhetoric that mirrors the suspect’s manifesto—a document disturbingly similar to campus op-eds glorifying anti-Israel sentiment. "This is the story we should be talking about," Ungar-Sargon insisted, calling out the left’s reluctance to confront this toxic ideology head-on.

Rodriguez faces federal charges, including murder of foreign officials, which could carry the death penalty, alongside firearm violations and two counts of first-degree murder. Under D.C. law, a first-degree murder conviction means at least 30 years behind bars, potentially a life sentence. The weapon used in the crime has been recovered, according to Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith.

This tragedy lays bare a deeper societal wound: unchecked hatred masquerading as activism. It’s a wake-up call to address the dangerous narratives taking root far beyond the classroom.