From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Sa’ar says flags to be flown at half-staff today after US shooting, blames it on ‘toxic antisemitic incitement’
Stav Levaton is a military reporter for The Times of Israel
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says the deadly shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, DC, is a direct consequence of rising global antisemitism and anti-Israel incitement.
“My condolences go to their families and the staff of the Israeli Embassy in Washington,” Sa’ar says in a statement to reporters at the Foreign Ministry.
The Foreign Ministry confirms the two victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim in a Jerusalem press briefing.
The pair, Israeli Embassy staffers, were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when the suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez, approached a group of four people and opened fire, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference.
Sa’ar says he told Lischinsky’s father today that “his son was a warrior on the diplomatic front who fell just like a soldier on the battlefield.”
“This is the direct result [of] toxic antisemitic incitement against Israel and Jews around the world,” he says, warning that Israeli missions and representatives are increasingly targeted in terrorist attacks that have “crossed all red lines.”
“I was worried… that something like this would happen — and it did,” Sa’ar adds.
He announces that flags will be flown at half-staff today in memory of the victims, and expresses his solidarity with Foreign Ministry personnel: “I am proud to lead these devoted people.”
Sa’ar attributes the attack to antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric, describing it as “modern blood libels.”
“This is what happens when leaders across the world surrender to the Palestinian terrorist propaganda,” he says, placing full blame for the ongoing war on Hamas. “Stop your incitement against Israel. Stop your false accusations,” he urges world leaders.
Sa’ar says US Ambassador Mike Huckabee updated him on the “intensive investigations” currently underway.
“We will not surrender to terrorism,” Sa’ar declares.
He also announces an international conference against antisemitism in Jerusalem next week, which will be attended by ministers from member states of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
Addressing the Israeli public, he concludes: “Hold your heads high,” adding: “Let us try to strengthen the unity among us.”
The Times of Israel Community.