Israeli politicians blamed Thursday night’s fatal terror attack in Washington D.C. on antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric around the world and many also placed blame on Israeli leftists such as Democrats chairman Yair Golan, who made irresponsible, outrageous, and false statements about Israel on Tuesday, insinuating that IDF soldiers “kill babies as a hobby.”

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu from Otzma Yehudit responded to the attack by saying: “Yair Golan’s blood libels are echoed by Nazis and Israel haters around the world. We’re now paying the price for them with the murderous attack in Washington, and history teaches us that we will continue to pay in the future. Yair, the blood of the embassy employees is on your hands and those of your friends.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also referred to Golan’s statements, writing: “Unfortunately, the antisemites in the world draw strength from vile politicians in Israel, who accuse IDF soldiers of murdering children as a hobby. The blood of the murdered is on their hands.”

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli stated, “It is important to tell the unequivocal truth. This murderous attack did not emerge from a vacuum. It is a direct result of blatant antisemitism and wild incitement against the State of Israel and the Jewish people, incitement fueled by extreme anti-Israel elements – both in the world and, regrettably, within the State of Israel.”

“Whoever spreads lies, compares Israel to the Nazis, accuses the IDF of committing war crimes, or falsely claims that the ‘hobby’ of IDF soldiers and the State of Israel is to kill babies – is fully complicit in the outcome. We will continue to fight antisemitism everywhere and in every way – consistently, resolutely, and fearlessly.”

Chikli also placed blame on “irresponsible leaders in the West” for their anti-Israel rhetoric. “The terrorist reportedly shouted ‘Free Palestine’ before opening fire. Let us be absolutely clear: ‘Free Palestine’ is not a cry for liberty – it is a cry for murder. That was proven in blood today. The slogan, parroted by activists, academics, and influencers, has become a banner not for peace but for hatred, violence, and the demonization of the Jewish state.”

“Anyone who uses it now, in the wake of this attack, is not just echoing antisemitism – they are legitimizing the murder of Jews and Israelis,” he added, slamming “irresponsible leaders in the west” like British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and French President Emmanuel Macron, for having “emboldened the forces of terror through their failure to draw moral red lines.”

“This cowardice has a price – and that price is paid in Jewish blood,” he asserted.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu slammed Golan’s remarks [before the terror attack], in a press conference he held on Wednesday evening:

“While our heroic soldiers are risking their lives in the Gaza Strip to protect our country and bring our hostages back, Yair Golan accuses them of war crimes,” Netanyahu said, adding that Golan’s remarks reminds him of medieval blood libels.

“It is Hamas that kills children as a hobby, while Israeli soldiers are doing everything they can to avoid civilian casualties. No army in the world is more moral than the IDF.”

Netanyahu continued by saying that those who defend Golan and repeat such charges fuel antisemitism in order to bring down his government. “They are willing to do anything to achieve that goal, including losing the war,” he said.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)