(JNS)American Jewish groups issued statements in the hours after a gunman shot and killed two Israeli embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who planned to marry. “We are devastated that two cherished friends and partners from the Israeli embassy were shot and killed as they left an American Jewish Committee event,” stated Ted Deutch, the CEO of the AJC. This senseless hate and violence must stop,” Deutch said. “The shooter reportedly shouted ‘free Palestine’ as he opened fire—a chilling reminder that anti-Zionism is antisemitism,” the two stated. When antisemitic rhetoric is normalized, tolerated or even amplified in our public discourse, it creates an environment where violence against Jews becomes more likely,” he said.