Israel News for 5-22-2025
News Update
Two staff members of Israel’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., were shot dead outside the city’s Jewish Museum late on Wednesday. The terrorist was identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, who yelled “Free Palestine” before shooting. He turned himself into officers inside the museum and was arrested while chanting “Free, free Palestine!”
Lischinsky, who was not Jewish, immigrated to Israel from his native Germany when he was 16 and settled in Jerusalem. According to his LinkedIn page, he served as an assistant in the embassy’s policy department and was responsible for monitoring trends and events in the Middle East and North Africa.
Milgrim, an American citizen, worked in the Embassy’s public diplomacy department and liaised with the local community. Before being posted to Washington, she had worked for the Tech2Peace organization, where she researched processes of peace with an emphasis on the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israeli ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter said Lischinsky had just bought an engagement ring for Milgrim and was going to propose in Jerusalem next week. In a social-media post early Thursday, Trump wrote: “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.” Prime Minister Netanyahu said he ordered security to be increased at Israeli missions around the world.
A missile fired by the Houthis was intercepted before entering Israeli territory yesterday, although it interrupted flights at Ben Gurion and sent hundreds of thousands of Israelis to shelters. A missile fired from Gaza was intercepted over Ashkelon. Three other rockets were also fired but didn’t make it over the border into Israel.
The IDF announced that it eliminated the terrorist who murdered pregnant mother Tzeela Gez, and arrested 2 other suspects in related to the attack. During a raid in the Palestinian village of Bruqin, near the location of the attack, the terrorist ran toward the soldiers holding a bag believed to be rigged with explosives while shouting at them. The soldiers opened fire and killed him. No Israeli forces were injured.
France is pressuring a number of Western countries to recognize a Palestinian state and formally announce it at a peace summit being organized by President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to be held at the UN on June 17. In response, Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon is working closely with U.S. diplomats to block the French initiative and persuade other nations not to support recognition. Israel is also preparing for an upcoming UN Security Council meeting on May 28, where several European countries are expected to push for a ceasefire in Gaza and the entry of humanitarian aid. Israel, once again working in coordination with the U.S., is hoping Washington will veto any such resolution.
