Each act of shooting underscores the prevalence of violence in our society, a aspect that the president appears to endorse.

In the grim landscape of May 21, when Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, employees of the Israeli Embassy, were assassinated near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, the narrative took a familiar turn - Middle East politics. But journalists and pundits missed a crucial aspect - the elephant in the room.

Discussions about whether the incident was antisemitic or if it was a consequence of Israel's actions towards Palestinians, or whether it was an act of terror, or a part of globalizing the intifada, are valid but incomplete.

The New York Times report reveals a crucial detail overlooked by many - the suspect had legally acquired a gun in Illinois and checked it with his luggage while flying from Chicago to the Washington area for a work conference the night before the shooting (a fact missing from the our website article). This chilling incident, sadly, is not an isolated case.

In the chilly November of 2023, a man from Burlington, Vt., was taken into custody for shooting three Palestinian college students without uttering a single word (he has pleaded innocent). In the haunting October of 2018, a gunman stormed the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, slaughtering 11 Jews at prayer. In 2015, three Muslim students were gunned down at their home by their neighbor in Chapel Hill, N.C.

This brief but heart-wrenching list of the countless victims of gun violence in the last decade barely scratches the surface. It does not include the racially motivated mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., and at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C.; the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla.; or the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, at a music festival in Las Vegas in 2017. It omits the countless casualties claimed by law enforcement.

The United States harbors a deeply ingrained culture of violence. This toxic environment fosters gun ownership, police brutality, and mass shootings. The nation's militaristic approach to international conflicts, disdain for nonviolent solutions, the manosphere, and the cruelty of predatory capitalism are all manifestations of this culture.

Kristi Noem, the secretary of Homeland Security, embodies this culture of cruelty and violence, as evident in her photographs in front of a cruel and inhumane Salvadoran jail and her flippant remarks about killing her dog. Noem, however, is not the only perpetrator - the true star of this theatre of violence is President Trump.

Trump's political agenda is rooted in vengeance. He revels in the drama of violence, reminiscent of the world of mixed martial arts. His executive orders aim to destroy individuals, law firms, and universities that have not bowed to him, and his budget priorities move funds away from those in need to the privileged few.

Now, the president desires a grand military parade on his birthday, featuring tanks, helicopters, and soldiers. Despite avoiding the draft himself and reportedly calling American soldiers who died in war suckers and losers, Trump admires the image of a strongman army at his command. He boasts, "We train our boys to be killing machines."

While some may draw tenuous links between pro-Palestinian campus demonstrations and the killings of Lischinsky and Milgrim, the clear line that needs to be traced is the one that everyone seems to have agreed to ignore - the link between a culture of violence and unrestricted gun ownership inevitably contributes to more bloodshed.

The only way we can break free from this cycle of violence is by confronting the elephant in the room.

Aryeh Cohen is a rabbi and a professor at American Jewish University in Los Angeles. @irmiklat.bsky.social

2 Israeli Embassy staff members killed in shooting near Jewish museum in D.C.

'Act of terror': Israeli Embassy workers killed in D.C. were at Gaza aid event

Insightful Discussion Points:

The correlation between gun culture in the United States, gun violence, and mass shootings is a complex yet well-documented issue. What factors contribute to this culture in the U.S., and how can it be addressed to mitigate the number of gun-related incidents?
The Israeli Embassy killings in Washington D.C. have been linked to Middle East politics. But what role does gun ownership and culture play in this tragic incident and how does it reflect global dynamics?
The article discusses the culture of violence in the United States, including police violence, the manosphere, and predatory capitalism. How are these issues interconnected, and what are the long-term implications for American society?
Consider the political leadership of President Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, as portrayed in the article. What do their attitudes and actions say about the current state of U.S. politics, and how do they contribute to fostering a culture of violence?
Mass shootings are an issue that often sparks public debate on gun control. In your opinion, what can be done to reduce the frequency of these tragedies in the U.S. and protect victims without infringing on the Second Amendment rights of citizens?
The article highlights the differential impacts of gun violence on minority communities, particularly Black and Hispanic youth. What are the underlying reasons for this disparity, and what measures can be taken to promote safety and reduce disproportionate violence within these communities?
The chilling incident involving the suspect legally acquiring a gun in Illinois, a detail overlooked by many, underscores the link between gun culture and gun violence in the US.
The New York Times report on the Israeli Embassy killings and the overlooked gun-related detail suggest that the incident is not just a product of Middle East politics but also the broader culture of violence in the US.
The gunman at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, the Muslim students murdered in Chapel Hill, and the countless victims of gun violence in the last decade reveal the toxic environment of violence fostered by gun ownership in the US.
The United States' militaristic approach to international conflicts, disdain for nonviolent solutions, predatory capitalism, and the manosphere are manifestations of the deeply ingrained culture of violence in the nation.
The interview with Kristi Noem, the secretary of Homeland Security, reflects the culture of cruelty and violence in American politics and society, as she embodies the harsh attitudes and flippant remarks that often go unchecked.
The shootings of Palestinians, the Muslim students murdered in Chapel Hill, and the racially motivated mass shootings in the US indicate that unrestricted gun ownership contributes to more bloodshed, especially among minorities.
A peaceful resolution to the cycle of violence requires addressing the root causes, including the culture of gun ownership, police brutality, and racism, in order to protect victims and promote safety for all citizens.