Netanyahu launches critical attacks on Starmer, Macron, and Carney following the Washington D.C. shooting incident.
In a strong rebuke, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has charged Emmanuel Macron of France, Sir Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom, and Mark Carney of Canada with exacerbating anti-Semitism after the deadly shooting of two Israeli embassy workers in Washington D.C. The attack occurred on the evening of May 22, as the victims left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum.
Netanyahu claims the leaders of these countries have crossed the line by threatening "concrete action" against Israel, should it continue its "egregious" military operations in Gaza [1]. Criticizing the European nations, the Israeli leader accused them of taking sides against Israel and emboldening Hamas, which has led to the continued rule and aspiration for another Palestinian state posing a threat to Israel's security.
He further linked the criticism of Israel's renewed military offensive in Gaza to the shooting in Washington D.C. [2]. The condemnation followed the statements made by the leaders of France, the UK, and Canada earlier in the week, calling for an immediate cessation of Israel's military operations in Gaza and demanding the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian aid [1][2][3].
The two victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were Israeli embassy workers. The suspect in the shooting, identified as 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, Illinois, was reported to have declared "I did this for Gaza" before shouting "free, free Palestine" as he was being detained by authorities [2].
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar described the shooting as a "direct result of antisemitic incitement" that has been amplified worldwide since the October 2023 attacks by Hamas [4]. Sa'ar drew a deliberate line between those speaking against Israel's actions in Gaza, which he terms as "blood libels," and the killings in Washington D.C. [2].
It should be noted that the term "blood libels" dates back to the Middle Ages, when Jewish people were falsely accused of using the blood of Christians and non-Jewish children for religious rituals [5]. Today, the term is used to describe anti-Semitism or violence against Jewish people, where perpetrators justify their actions by Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza [5].
In response to the shooting, officials in France, the UK, and Canada have all issued statements condemning the incident while also rejecting the blame for the attack. The French Foreign Ministry, for instance, described the accusations as "completely outrageous and completely unjustified" [2].
Politicians in the UK have also weighed in, with Luke Pollard contending that he does not recognize the remarks by Netanyahu [6]. The UK government has called for all remaining hostages to be released by Hamas, aid to be delivered to the suffering people in Gaza, and an immediate ceasefire [6].
The ongoing controversy unfolds against a backdrop of heightened tensions over Israel's renewed military offensive in Gaza and global debates over the humanitarian impact and the path to a two-state solution [3]. International organizations have raised concerns about the humanitarian crisis brewing in Gaza, as aid, particularly fuel, remains blocked [5].
In an interview, Matt Vickers, the UK's shadow home office minister, emphasized the need for "sensible and cautious" language from world leaders, as the situation remains "very charged and very heated" [6]. Additionally, Vickers urged political leaders to maintain a level head during the ongoing debate over the conflict in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Amichai Chikli, Israel's diaspora minister, has continued to implicate European nations in emboldening the forces of terror by providing backing to violence against Israel [6]. He has been emphatic in stating that those who do so, through appeasement, double standards, or silence, must be held accountable for paying the price in Jewish blood.
It is important to note that Israeli diplomats have since distanced themselves from the comments made by Chikli [2].
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-61044942[2] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/benjamin-netanyahu-criticism-UK-France-Canada-B1895633.html[3] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-envoy-seeks-ceasefire-end-gaza-violence-2021-11-15/[4] https://www.timesofisrael.com/antisemitic-incitement-directly-linked-to-israeli-jewish-embassy-workers-slaying-saar-says/[5] https://www.jta.org/2021/11/14/politics/what-are-blood-libels-and-how-did-they-come-to-denote-antisemitism[6] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61075044[7] https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6306513907001
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts in Gaza, specifically Israel's military operations, have sparked intense political debates, with critics accusing Israel of egregious actions.
- The recent shooting of two Israeli embassy workers in Washington D.C. has raised concerns about the link between war-and-conflicts and domestic crime-and-justice, as the suspect allegedly declared his support for Gaza.
- General-news outlets have reported on the international response to the situation, with leaders of various countries expressing concern about the humanitarian impact of the war-and-conflicts in Gaza and urging for peace.
