WASHINGTON—Heritage Foundation experts released the following statements today condemning the tragic murder of two Israelis outside the Capital Jewish Museum in an alleged act of antisemitic terrorism.
Victoria Coates, vice president of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy at Heritage commented on this tragedy:
“We are saddened by the loss of Yaron and Sarah, two young diplomats who had their whole lives ahead of them. Their murder reinforces the purpose behind Heritage establishing the National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism and Project Esther. We must be clear-eyed about the danger the so-called "pro-Palestinian" movement poses to American society."
Robert Greenway, director of the Allison Center for National Security at Heritage condemned the violence:
“I am heartbroken and outraged by the terrorist attack which took the lives of our friend and colleague Yaron Lischinsky and his fiancée Sarah Milgrim. Their tragic deaths are a horrific loss to their families, the Israeli Embassy and Foreign Affairs Ministry, and all of those who seek peace.
“The barbarous attack is a brutal reminder of the alarming rise of antisemitism in the United States. We all have a solemn responsibility to confront the scourge of antisemitism and to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters and the State of Israel.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Yaron and Sarah, the Israeli Embassy staff, and everyone mourning their loss. May their memories be a blessing.”
Daniel Flesch, senior policy analyst for the Middle East and North Africa at Heritage and member of the National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, added:
“We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim—two young diplomats whose lives were cut short by a barbaric display of antisemitic terrorism. Our thoughts and prayers are with Yaron and Sarah’s families.
“Yaron and Sarah were attending an event for young diplomats hosted by the American Jewish Committee. They were targeted not because of their positions in Israel’s Embassy to the United States, but for participating in a Jewish event. In shouting “free Palestine” and waving a keffiyah outside a Jewish event, the murderer made clear his motivation was to target Jews. This was a clear act of terrorism committed just steps from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
“This is the threat that Project Esther: A National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism was drafted to end. While the Jewish people were attacked last night, the ultimate objective of the murderer and the ideology and organizations he represents is the United States. Heritage remains steadfastly committed to defeating this destructive ideology that has no place in our country.”
Dr. Kevin Roberts, president of The Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action for America, sent a letter to Ambassador Leiter expressing his condolences and condemning the attack.
BACKGROUND:
The National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism (NTFCA), a project supported by The Heritage Foundation, is an informal volunteer coalition of organizations and individuals committed to action combating antisemitism here at home and reaffirming America’s commitment to bilateral relations with Israel.
To learn more about the NTFCA and Project Esther, including how to participate, read the national strategy.
