International-News

FBI: ‘Murder of Israeli diplomats in Washington is terrorism’

Arrested Elias Rodriguez, 30, pro-Palestine activist. He published a post entitled ‘let’s bring the war home’ shortly before the attack

The FBI calls the murder of the two Israeli diplomats, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were killed in front of the Jewish Museum in Washington an act of terrorism. This was stated on X by director Kash Patel, speaking of ‘targeted anti-Semitic violence’ and an ‘attack on our core values’.

For the crime, Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago, already known for his activities in the pro-Palestine movement, was arrested. The suspect, the night before the attack, had published online a post entitled ‘Escalation for Gaza, let’s bring the war home’, considered by investigators to be a programmatic manifesto. It reads: ‘Atrocities committed by Israelis against Palestinians defy description and quantification’ and that ‘armed action is not necessarily military’.

FBI Deputy Chief Dan Bongino confirmed that the agency is working to verify the authenticity of the texts published by Rodriguez, adding that further details will be released as soon as possible.

Rodriguez, with a degree in English from the University of Illinois, had been working at the American Osteopathic Information Association since June. He had previously held positions as a researcher and producer for an African-American history website. Several pieces of content related to pro-Palestine demonstrations are active on X, including a video from 2023, and his presence at a sit-in in front of the home of former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel against Amazon expansion.

In the evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with US President Donald Trump, who expressed ‘deep sorrow’ over the attack. Trump pledged his ‘commitment to the fight against anti-Semitism’ and full support for Israel, including in relation to the targets in the Gaza Strip. Both reiterated their common will to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu also harshly attacked the leaders of France, the United Kingdom and Canada, accusing them of ‘being on the wrong side of history’ for their support for the creation of a Palestinian state. ‘Hamas does not want a state,’ he said, ‘but the destruction of Israel. And those who reward murderers make themselves complicit in injustice’.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

THE LATEST NEWS