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Following the tragic shooting deaths of two Israeli Embassy employees outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C., Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, a vocal supporter of Israel, has pointed blame at academics and left-leaning politicians. This incident has sparked renewed debate about antisemitism and campus activism.
Fatal Shooting Condemned
The victims have been identified as Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli national, and Sarah Milgrim, an American citizen. Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to Washington, described the pair as a young couple on the cusp of engagement, as reported by The Associated Press.
Suspect Identified
Elias Rodriguez, 31, is the suspect in custody, accused of shouting “Free Palestine” following Wednesday’s shooting.
Portnoy’s Response: Blame on Academia and Politics
In a post on X, Portnoy, a 48-year-old Massachusetts native who identifies as Jewish, stated: “A domestic terrorist went hunting Jews last night in Wash DC open firing outside a Jewish event killing 2 Jews. The terrorist Elias Rodriguez yelled ‘Free Palestine’ as he got arrested.”
He continued, “This type of tragedy is the natural progression of events when the morons running our colleges, far left politicians, and hate merchants on social media continue to normalize and seemingly encourage anti semitism in this country.”
Portnoy reiterated unverified allegations circulating online against Rodriguez.
Elias Rodriguez (pictured), a 31-year-old suspect, is accused of yelling “free Palestine” after being apprehended following Wednesday’s shooting.
A photograph from the official Facebook account of The Embassy of Israel to the US, shows Israeli Embassy employees Yaron Lischinsky (R) and Sarah Lynn Milgrim.
Dave Portnoy, 48, identifies as Jewish and is a strong advocate for Israel.
“The least surprising part about this tragedy is that the killer hated America long before the conflict in the Middle East,” Portnoy asserted, linking Rodriguez to various left-wing political groups.
“He was a serial agitator as so many of the Free Palestine movement are,” Portnoy stated. “For them this isn’t just about the war in Gaza. This is about hating America and our way of life. And the more that antisemitism is normalized in this country the more it emboldens these lunatics to commit these heinous acts.”
“The bottom line is that nobody in this country should be intimidated or fear for their safety because of their religion but here we are.”
Antisemitism on College Campuses
Portnoy is among those critical of American universities, claiming they are fostering antisemitism by allowing student protests against Israel amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Context of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Since October 2023, following the abduction of 1,195 Israelis and foreign nationals by Hamas militants, approximately 60,000 individuals have perished on both sides of the conflict, according to various sources. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 95 percent of these fatalities are Palestinian.
The conflict has precipitated a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with nearly 2 million individuals displaced.
Trump Administration Actions
Since assuming office in January, President Donald Trump has targeted Palestinian support within American universities, threatening to cut funding for institutions and revoke visas for international students suspected of being “Hamas sympathizers.”
Last month, the Trump administration reportedly revoked the visas of 800 students, some of whom have had their statuses reinstated by court order.