2 Israeli embassy staffers killed in apparent 'targeted attack' in Washington, DC ; Perp shouted "Free Palestine", is in custody

[essentialsaltes]

Two members of the Israeli Embassy staff -- a couple about to get engaged -- were gunned down outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday in what the FBI believes may be a targeted attack.

He said the pair were attending a Jewish conference of the American Jewish Committee when they were gunned down "in a horrific terrorist attack."

The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, was promptly taken into custody at the scene and is being questioned by police, Smith said.

Once in custody, he implied that he had committed the shooting and began to chant, "free, free Palestine," Smith said.

I certainly agree that given the apparent political motivation, this looks like targeted terrorism against Israel's policies with respect to Gaza/Palestine.

 

[wing2000]

This is so sad....and horrfic on many levels.
Violence will only lead to more violence.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Just to point to the elephant in the room. The OP article and many others have described the terror attack as 'antisemitic'.

I don't think that's (yet) justified, though it certainly may be as the investigation continues. The perp did not have to travel from Chicago to DC to attack Jews. The attack seems to be targeted, but did the perp target 'Jews' or employees of the Israeli government?

 

[wing2000]

Just to point to the elephant in the room. The OP article and many others have described the terror attack as 'antisemitic'.

I don't think that's (yet) justified, though it certainly may be as the investigation continues. The perp did not have to travel from Chicago to DC to attack Jews. The attack seems to be targeted, but did the perp target 'Jews' or employees of the Israeli government?

It's not clear if the suspect specifically targeted the two Israeli embassy employees and I don't think it makes any difference. Killing two young Jews outside a Jewish Museum in the heart of Washington D.C. was clearly designed to send a message.

 

[rjs330]

It was just a matter of time.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

It's not clear if the suspect specifically targeted the two Israeli embassy employees and I don't think it makes any difference.

If the supposed manifesto that's circulating is legitimate, it's clear that the perpetrator was deliberately targeting people associated with the Israeli government rather than Jews. While that may not make a difference for some people (and certainly doesn't justify murder), I do think it's a significant distinction.

Killing two young Jews outside a Jewish Museum in the heart of Washington D.C. was clearly designed to send a message.

Obviously - but again, I think the message was intended to be conveyed by the fact that both were aides at the Israeli embassy rather than by their faith.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Build the wall!

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Just to point to the elephant in the room. The OP article and many others have described the terror attack as 'antisemitic'.

I don't think that's (yet) justified, though it certainly may be as the investigation continues. The perp did not have to travel from Chicago to DC to attack Jews. The attack seems to be targeted, but did the perp target 'Jews' or employees of the Israeli government?

I agree. However, the attackers have been reported to have shouted "free Palestine" afterwards. Still doesn't prove antisemitism. But it is evidence that their attack was politically motivated by the war in Gaza.

 

[John G.]

Apparently the victims were Jesus followers: From CBN

 

[RocksInMyHead]

But it is evidence that their attack was politically motivated by the war in Gaza.

I don't think there was ever any question about that.

 

[Carl Emerson]

I am amazed and dismayed that there seems a lack of good security around such sites...

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Apparently the victims were Jesus followers: From CBN

Someone calling themselves "Christian" doesn't make them a follower of Christ.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Someone calling themselves "Christian" doesn't make them a follower of Christ.

Correct... but the price of being a confessing Christian in Israel is high so the chance of them being 'pretenders' is low.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Correct... but the price of being a confessing Christian in Israel is high so the chance of them being 'pretenders' is low.

I apologize. I misread John's post. I mistakenly thought he was saying the shooters were calling themselves Christians. I digress my previous post.

 

[Rescued One]

My boss was a Jewish Capenter. His name is Jesus. I worked in DC near the White House in less violent days.

 

[Beth77]

the price of being a confessing Christian in Israel is high

How so?

 

[Carl Emerson]

I was there in the eighties and helping a ministry that was giving refuge to Jews who converted.

They commonly lost their jobs, were excommunicated from their families and in some cases the family held a funeral for them.

Folks don't realise how antichrist the religious Jews are.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

I was there in the eighties and helping a ministry that was giving refuge to Jews who converted.

They commonly lost their jobs, were excommunicated from their families and in some cases the family held a funeral for them.

Folks don't realise how antichrist the religious Jews are.

Thankfully they receive a lot of support and funding to do their work.

 

[bèlla]

The suspect is hispanic which nullifies the usual trope. Because terrorist equals muslim in many christian’s minds.

~bella

 

[Aryeh Jay]

The suspect is hispanic which nullifies the usual trope. Because terrorist equals muslim in many christian’s minds.

~bella

Brown, it's all the same. Probably illegal. Bulid the wall.