From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Herzog urges end to ‘mudslinging’ after Israeli politicians blame each other for US shooting
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
President Isaac Herzog appeals to the Israeli public and to politicians not to politicize the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, DC, after politicians on the right and left accused each other of being responsible for the tragedy due to their rhetoric.
“When it comes to the despicable murder in Washington, domestic Israeli political views have no significance,” Herzog tweets, arguing that the shooter, identified as Elias Rodriguez, had set out to commit “a criminal act of terror out of antisemitism and deep hatred.”
“On a sad and difficult morning of a very serious terrorist attack, and at a time when the State of Israel is facing many threats, I appeal to the public in Israel: Stop this ugly mudslinging. I am asking you to understand the magnitude of your responsibility at this time, to restrain your statements and do only what contributes to and strengthens the State of Israel and supports Jewish communities around the world,” Herzog adds.
Herzog’s comments come after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu, as well as Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli and others, blamed Yair Golan, the chairman of the left-wing opposition The Democrats party, for the attack, arguing that his claim this week that Israel “kills babies as a hobby” had emboldened antisemites.
In response, Golan argued that the discourse of government ministers, including supporters of racist rabbi Meir Kahane, enabled the shooting attack.
In a separate statement, National Unity chairman Benny Gantz echoes Herzog, asserting that the shooting was committed by “a despicable murderer full of hatred and antisemitism.”
“The blood is on his hands and that of those who spread wild incitement against Jews around the world who grew [such hatred] within themselves,” he continues. “We have enough external enemies. The greatest gift we can give them is to fight among ourselves and become enemies at home.”
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