The War Cry Against Radicalism: Tsach Saar's Wake-Up Call to America
U.S. diplomat issues alert on domestic extremism following deadly Washington shooting incident
Deputy Consul General of Israel in New York, Tsach Saar, sounds the alarm for America after the tragic shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington D.C. He warns that radicalism isn't just a problem for Jews and Israelis, but it's a threat to American democracy.
"This isn't an Israeli problem or a Jewish one, it's an American problem," Saar tells our digital platform. "Those who incite violence, spread antisemitic rhetoric, are shaking the foundations of American democracy."
Antisemitic slogans, like the call to "globalize the Intifada," have become more common at anti-Israel demonstrations. Saar argues that this movement isn't limited to the Middle East but seeks to export violence to places like the U.S., making the D.C. shooting a significant wake-up call.
The shooting suspect, Elias Rodriguez, was heard shouting "free, free Palestine" during his arrest, prompting renewed discussions about the rhetoric used in anti-Israel protests in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre and subsequent conflict in Gaza.
College campuses, particularly Columbia University in New York, have become hotbeds for anti-Israel agitators. School officials are currently negotiating with students to dismantle an anti-Israel encampment on campus.
Saar emphasizes that both Jewish and Israeli students, as well as those who express pro-Israel views, feel unsafe on U.S. campuses. While he acknowledges America's First Amendment as sacred, he cautions that there's a difference between expressing viewpoints and inciting violence.
"We shouldn't hide our identities, but unite and resist by all legal means those who use lies and hateful rhetoric to incite violence," Saar concludes. He also expresses concern over online support for the murders of the two embassy workers.
U.S. antisemitism has been on the rise since the conflict between Israel and Hamas in October 2023. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported a record-breaking number of antisemitic incidents in 2024, marking the fourth consecutive year of such a record.
The current surge in antisemitism in the U.S. is closely tied to the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict, with universities serving as significant sites for both incidents and policy responses. The political discourse is contentious, with federal and legislative actions focusing on institutions perceived as failing to protect Jewish students, while debates continue over how to distinguish between legitimate criticism of Israeli policy and actual antisemitism.
[1] "Antisemitism Report 2024" - ADL (Anti-Defamation League)[2] "U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Cuts Harvard University's Grants Over Antisemitism Concerns" - Jewish Telegraphic Agency[3] "Columbia University Under Federal Scrutiny for Antisemitic Harassment" - The Forward[4] "French Antisemitic Incidents Soar in First Half of 2024" - Times of Israel[5] "Congressional Hearing Addresses Antisemitism on American College Campuses" - JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
- The rising antisemitism in the US, as reported by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), has been largely attributed to the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023.
- College campuses, such as Columbia University in New York, have become significant sites for both incidents and policy responses related to antisemitism, with university officials negotiating to dismantle anti-Israel encampments.
- Policing rhetoric used in anti-Israel protests has become a contentious political discourse, with debates continuing over how to differentiate between legitimate criticism of Israeli policy and actual antisemitism.
- In the face of growing incidents of antisemitism and hate crimes, including the shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington D.C., prominent figures like Tsach Saar are urging Americans to unite and resist those inciting violence.
