After attacks in Washington: Israelis feel the threat of global anti -Semitism

When the resident of Jerusalem Ziv Halsband woke up with the news that two Israeli Embassy officials were killed, the software developer came to a disturbing conclusion: the Jews are nowhere to be safe.

« We hope that Trump will continue to help us and protect us all, especially in the United States. And we want to be sure that we can travel around the world with confidence, » said Halsband, a tank officer during the Gaza War, which was seriously injured.

The Israeli Embassy staff, a young couple to go married, were killed by a lonely armed man in Washington on Wednesday night while leaving an event at the Jewish Museum of the capital, about 2 km from the White House.

The only suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, chanted « Freedom for Palestine, Freedom for Palestine, » after being detained, Washington’s chief Pamela Smith said.

The attack came at a time when Israel became more and more isolated because of its escalating military campaign in Gaza, where it ended the help of the background of hunger and collapse warnings.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has accused unnamed European officials on Thursday in « toxic anti -Semitic incitement », which he accused of the hostile climate in which the killings took place.

Gaza War

Israel began its attack on Gaza after Hamas fighters stormed southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages according to Israeli data.

Israel’s land and air offensive has since displaced almost all 2.3 million Gaza residents and killed over 53,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in Gaza.

Washington firing could cause sympathy for Israel from Western allies who put pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to facilitate the blockade of war -devastated territory. « The murder of two members of the Israeli Embassy near the Jewish Museum in Washington is a disgusting act of anti-Semitic barbarism. Nothing can justify such violence, » said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Baro. « My thoughts are with their loved ones, their colleagues and the State of Israel. »

Felix Klein, Commissioner of the German Government to combat anti -Semitism, said there is reason to fear that shooting in Washington can inspire imitators « even on our own streets. » « As a society, we have to remain vigilant and security measures for Jewish institutions must also be strengthened in Germany, » Klein told newspapers of the Funke media group.

The French Interior Minister sent a note to local authorities across the country, which says that security must be strengthened in places related to the Jewish community, such as synagogues and that such measures should be « visible and deterrent ».

Wednesday shootings will surely further ignite the US debate and elsewhere about the Gaza War, which polarizes Israeli’s unwavering supporters and propalist demonstrators. Netanyahu said he was shocked by the « horrifying anti -Semitic » murders that he believes have happened in an atmosphere of increasing anti -Semitism and hostility to Israel.

« We are witnessing the terrible price of anti -Semitism and wild incitement against the State of Israel, » he said in a statement.

Social networks

Victims, Yaron Lisinski and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were local officials, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said. They both tried to encourage reconciliation between the Israelis and the Palestinians, each belonging to individual advocacy groups.

Former Israeli US ambassador, Michael Oren, who was targeted at a thwarted attempt to murder from Iran during his service, said that encouragement on social media had changed the level of threat during a difficult period of propalist protests in the United States university campuses.

« And frankly, we need to think as a country how to fight this incitement on social media, because it is a serious threat. » « And what it does is systematic dehumanization of the Jews and we know what it leads to, » he said.

Some Israelis were particularly concerned that the killings were committed at the Jewish Museum. « This is a Jewish museum, which means that hatred of the Jews and hatred of Israel are in the same line. And it is sad, we have to fight this, » said Jerusalem Resident Woody Cesam. The thirty -year -old Israeli Avia Levy has come to the conclusion that leaving Israel is too risky.

« I am an Israeli and it makes me feel like I’m afraid. I’m afraid to go abroad. I’m afraid. I don’t know where we’re going to come. I have children, it will just make me afraid. »