More than 50 years ago, an Israeli diplomat was gunned down in his driveway in suburban Maryland after returning from a dinner party.
On Wednesday night, two staff members at the Israeli Embassy were fatally shot as they left an event organized by the American Jewish Committee at the Capital Jewish Museum. The suspect reportedly shouted, “Free, free Palestine,” after being taken into custody, according to police.
The earlier case remains unsolved, but the parallels between the shootings are stark, reflecting a volatile chapter in Israeli-Palestinian relations marked by global violence. “It was a time of heightened tensions between Palestinians and Israelis just as they are today,” noted a retired F.B.I. agent who investigated the killing of Colonel Yosef Alon, the military attaché who was shot five times.
Since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent large-scale Israeli response, pro-Palestinian protests have proliferated across the United States, including at Israeli consulates and college campuses, amid ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The Trump administration and Israel have accused the protesters of fueling antisemitism and inciting violence against Jews. Protesters and their supporters have denied these allegations, asserting that most demonstrations have remained nonviolent.
“Some believe the October 7 terror attack was a just solution to a political problem,” stated a retired F.B.I. agent with years of experience investigating Hamas. “The normalization of that narrative provides a foundation for advocating violence against the Jewish people, and it manifested itself yesterday.”
“The conflict is not just limited to the Middle East,” she added. “And it is on our doorstep today.”
Before Colonel Alon’s murder, tensions were similarly high worldwide and in the United States. Members of a Palestinian terrorist group known as Black September had attacked Israeli citizens at the 1972 Olympic Games in Germany, shocking viewers across the globe.
A terrorist with suspected ties to Black September attempted to detonate three car bombs in New York City in March 1973, coinciding with a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir.
Ultimately, the violence reached Colonel Alon, a decorated fighter pilot who had settled in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with his family. He had been in the U.S. to ensure Israel's access to advanced military resources in preparation for potential conflict with neighboring Arab countries.
Upon returning home that night, gunfire erupted as he parked in his driveway, with his wife narrowly escaping injury. The assassination prompted a significant F.B.I. investigation.
Despite extensive inquiry, Colonel Alon’s killing was never solved, though the C.I.A. suspected Palestinian terrorists were behind it. Investigators, including the retired F.B.I. agent, interviewed various suspects but could never conclusively resolve the case.
In contrast, a suspect was quickly identified in the recent shooting. Police named Elias Rodriguez as the gunman, stating he was seen pacing outside the museum beforehand. He shot two embassy aides before entering the museum, where security personnel detained him. Investigators have since searched his home in Chicago.
The F.B.I. is examining evidence to determine if the shooting was motivated by hate. A post on social media verified as belonging to the suspect condemned both the Israeli and American governments and referenced Israeli military actions against Palestinians, omitting mention of the casualties on October 7.
Despite the similarities in the two cases, one significant difference remains, according to the retired F.B.I. agent. “It’s tragic, but the families will have some closure,” he stated. “I was glad the guy was captured at the scene unlike our case. I wish we had DNA back in 1973. There will be no open questions about who killed them.”
He expressed ongoing regret that Colonel Alon’s case remains unresolved and hopes the F.B.I. will continue the investigation started in 2017 to finally bring closure to the case.