Israeli Minister Urges U.S. to Pursue Death Penalty for Embassy Staff Killings: “Send a Message to Antisemites Everywhere”

By: Fern Sidman

In the aftermath of the brutal murder of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar has called on American authorities to pursue the death penalty for the alleged shooter, Elias Rodriguez, in what he described to The Algemeiner as a necessary act of justice and deterrence against global antisemitism.

The victims, Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, were gunned down outside the Capital Jewish Museum on May 21, shortly after attending an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee. The alleged shooter, Rodriguez, had traveled from Chicago to Washington just one day before the killings, transporting a firearm in his checked luggage—a chilling detail outlined in an FBI affidavit cited by The Algemeiner.

According to court documents, surveillance footage captured Rodriguez firing multiple rounds at the two Israeli nationals before continuing to shoot at them at close range, even as one tried to crawl to safety. When apprehended by law enforcement, Rodriguez reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” and later told officers he had acted “for Gaza.”

In an interview with The Algemeiner on Tuesday, Minister Zohar made a direct appeal for U.S. prosecutors to seek the maximum sentence: “I think this is an important message that all the antisemitic people should know — that there is a big price to pay if they do these kinds of actions,” Zohar said. “A very, very hard penalty against this criminal… will deliver a message that people should avoid this antisemitic way in the future.”

Zohar’s comments follow a formal letter sent by 15 Israeli lawmakers to Attorney General Pam Bondi, calling on her to pursue capital punishment. The letter, led by MK Yitzhak Kroizer of the Otzma Yehudit party, called attention to the fact that the killings were not random acts of violence but an ideologically motivated hate crime targeting Israeli officials.

“We believe it would be appropriate for you to seek the death penalty,” the letter reads, according to the report on The Algemeiner, citing the crime’s “premeditated nature, ideological motivation, and the victims’ diplomatic status.”

Zohar, who had been in Washington just days prior to the attack, spoke with Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Leo Terrell, head of the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism at the U.S. Department of Justice, to discuss the alarming rise in antisemitism across the U.S., particularly on university campuses. He later told The Algemeiner that he found the attack “unbelievable,” adding:

“We know that the antisemitism is spreading around the United States… but we didn’t believe this kind of action could happen. It proves that [antisemitism] is something we must take care of, and we must do something about it.”

Zohar expressed optimism about U.S. leadership on the issue, noting that President Donald Trump and Pam Bondi are personally committed to fighting antisemitism. According to Zohar’s remarks to The Algemeiner, he believes their administration will help ensure accountability and bolster the U.S.–Israel alliance in the face of such threats.

Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a tightening of security protocols at Israeli embassies worldwide and spoke directly with Bondi. As reported by The Algemeiner, Bondi assured the Prime Minister that President Trump was personally involved in managing the U.S. response and that Rodriguez would be brought to justice.

The urgency of Israel’s position was further reflected in the Israeli lawmakers’ letter, which noted that the victims were “not random,” and emphasized that the “preliminary evidence strongly indicates that this was a targeted and hate-driven act.”

The lawmakers acknowledged the integrity of the U.S. legal system but felt “compelled to speak out,” stating that the U.S.–Israel alliance rests not only on shared interests but on “a mutual commitment to uphold the values of human dignity, justice, and security.”

Rodriguez, 31, currently faces a slew of federal charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, murder of foreign officials, causing death through the use of a firearm and use of a firearm during a violent crime.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro confirmed that the case is “death penalty-eligible,” and The Algemeiner reported that Rodriguez will remain in custody until his next scheduled court appearance on June 18.

FBI Assistant Director Steven Jensen labeled the incident a “heinous murder” and confirmed that the agency considers it a “targeted, antisemitic” act.

This tragic attack has become a flashpoint in the global debate over rising antisemitism and the legal consequences for hate crimes. As Zohar explained to The Algemeiner, delivering the death penalty would serve not only as retribution but as a clear warning to others: “It’s about sending a message — to the attacker, his supporters, and to every antisemitic individual — that Jewish blood is not cheap, and acts of hate will be punished with the utmost severity.”

Zohar’s remarks reflect a wider sentiment within Israeli society and the Jewish diaspora that symbolic and legal action is needed more urgently than ever. In an era of escalating violence, the international Jewish community is watching closely how the United States responds.

This case may mark a pivotal moment in how democracies confront the deadly consequences of unchecked hate.