US Homeland Security Chief Kristi Noem Mourns Victims of DC Jewish Museum Shooting at Jerusalem Memorial Event

US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Monday participated in a Jerusalem memorial service honoring the lives of murdered Israeli embassy staffers Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, praising the slain couple as unwavering advocates for peace between the Jewish state and its Arab neighbors. 

“Today, we stand together with profound grief, and our hearts are heavy with the loss of these two radiant souls that we will no longer have with us,” Noem said. “In this moment of sorrow, we also ask that you would gather with us to honor their light and the unbreakable spirit of the Israeli and the American people.”

“Friends and family shared of Sarah that she glowed with warmth and compassion, dedicating her life to fostering peace and understanding,” Noem continued. “Their love for each other, a bond that was so strong that Yaron had already chosen a ring to propose to Sarah here in Jerusalem, reminds us of the dreams that terrorism seeks to destroy every single day — but we will not let hatred have the final word.”

Lischinsky, 30, and Milgrim, 26, who worked at the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC, and were set to become engaged to be married, were murdered last Wednesday night in what authorities are investigating as a targeted attack. The victims were fatally shot while exiting an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) at the Capital Jewish Museum in the US capital.

Elias Rodriguez, a 31-year-old Chicago native, was charged with murdering the diplomats in what is being investigated as a possible hate crime. An affidavit filed by US federal authorities in support of the criminal complaint charging Rodriguez revealed that he said at the scene of the shooting, “I did it for Palestine; I did it for Gaza.” He also chanted “Free Palestine, Free Palestine” after being taken into custody, according to video of the incident.

Noem has emphasized issuing punishment and deportation for non-US citizens who support antisemitic violence and terrorism. Although Rodriguez is a US citizen, US intelligence agencies have warmed of Iran and Qatar spearheading misinformation efforts to radicalize Americans against Israel.

On Monday, Noem said that Lischinsky and Milgrim “stood for something that was much larger than themselves.”

“They have lived a life of significance that has forever changed us. Together they embody the very best of Israel: courageous, hopeful and dedicated to peace,” she added.

Noem arrived in Israel on Sunday evening just as Jerusalem Day festivities were beginning. The holiday, known in Hebrew as Yom Yerushalayim, commemorates Israel’s reunification of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War. For many Israelis, the day symbolizes the restoration of Jewish access to historic and religious sites, particularly in the Old City, including the Western Wall. Jerusalem Day is marked with parades, prayers, and nationalist celebrations, though it remains politically sensitive due to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and differing views on the status of East Jerusalem.

According to US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Noem became the first US cabinet-level official to participate in the observance. While in Jerusalem, Noem visited the Western Wall, where she paused to pray and placed a note in one of its cracks.

On Sunday night, Noem also met with Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also in attendance. According to a statement from Ben-Gvir’s office, he thanked Noem for the US’s strident support of Israel, as well as for President Donald Trump’s proposals for Gaza once the current war ends. His plan, though not officially detailed, has reportedly included ideas such as international oversight, the possible involvement of Arab states in reconstruction, the potential relocation of Palestinians to neighboring countries, and efforts to prevent the terrorist group Hamas from regaining control — positions that align with Israeli security concerns.

The post US Homeland Security Chief Kristi Noem Mourns Victims of DC Jewish Museum Shooting at Jerusalem Memorial Event first appeared on Algemeiner.com.