Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, who are the two Israeli diplomats killed in Washington

Anti-Semitic attack

Killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum where they had gone to an event. A man was arrested after the murder, who allegedly shouted: "Free Palestine!" The couple would soon be married

They were young, in love and committed to peace, but for some they were an enemy to be defeated. Yaron Lischinsky , 28, and Sarah Milgrim , 26, were getting married soon: they had met at work, in the Israeli embassy in Washington and he had just bought the ring and was going to propose to her during a trip to Jerusalem . Yaron was an Israeli, with a German passport and working in the political department of the embassy, and Sarah was an American, employed in the mission's public diplomacy department. Both declared that they wanted to dedicate their careers to peace negotiations and understanding between peoples.

Who are Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky

They were shot dead outside the Jewish Museum in Washington as they were leaving an event dedicated to the diplomacy of dialogue, by a thirty-year-old from Chicago who shouted “ Free Palestine ”. The action of a single man, apparently without accomplices, who allowed himself to be arrested without trying to escape or react. But for Israeli officials, the attack is the result of the climate of anti-Semitism fomented also by European leaders. Donald Trump condemned the attack, recognizing its anti-Semitic origins, and for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “ we are witnessing the terrible price of the savage incitement against the State of Israel ”.

Their dream of love shattered by anti-Semitic hatred

Tel Aviv announced additional security measures at Israeli missions around the world while Western chancelleries joined in condemning the attack. Kaja Kallas , the EU High Representative, said she was “ shocked ”. “ There is no room and there should be no room in our societies for hatred, extremism or anti-Semitism ,” she said in a post on social media. For Antonio Tajani, “ anti-Semitic violence is not acceptable and is an absolute priority for me, the Government and the entire country .”

International reactions

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the shooting “ in the strongest possible terms ” and said “ an anti-Semitic motive must be assumed .” “ We condemn this appalling and anti-Semitic crime ,” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker said he was deeply saddened and added that “ Austria will continue to do everything possible to ensure the security of Israel and protect the Jewish community .” Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin also condemned the attack, saying: “ There is absolutely no room for violence or hatred .”