Ep. 4: Tragedy in DC

A brief comment on the tragic shooting in DC and the political turmoil in it's aftermath. 

Transcript

Raheel Khan: 0:00

Hi everyone. Today I want to take a moment to talk about the recent tragedy in Washington, dc. The shooting of the young Jewish couple who were two staff members of the Israeli embassy. This was a horrific act of violence. It is utterly unacceptable and must be unequivocally condemned. There is no justification, none for targeting innocent people. My heart goes out to the victims', families and loved ones, as well as the broader Jewish community as they process this senseless tragedy. But even in mourning, something troubling has already emerged. That this tragedy is quickly becoming highly politicized. We've seen the Israeli ambassador frame it as part of a broader campaign to delegitimize Israel. The Trump administration, blaming it on the pro-Palestinian movement at large. Or Prime Minister Netanyahu going so far as to equate the chant"Free Palestine" with"Heil Hitler". This kind of framing does not bring justice. It deepens division. Let me be absolutely clear. Antisemitism is real, persistent and dangerous. Jewish people have endured centuries of persecution, and it's essential to remain vigilant in confronting this hatred wherever it appears. Yet at the same time, fighting antisemitism must not become a blank check to silence legitimate criticism. Criticizing the policies of a government or the actions of an organization, whether on Gaza, the West Bank, or broader human rights issues is not the same as targeting people based on their identity. In a healthy democracy, debate is not just allowed, it's necessary. We cannot allow a false binary where you either support a government or group unconditionally, or you're labeled anti-Semitic. That's not how justice works. That's not how freedom works. Here's what we know about this tragedy. Reports indicate the shooter shouted pro-Palestinian slogans, but that doesn't make this the act of a movement. The overwhelming majority of pro-Palestinian protests across the US have been peaceful. When violence has broken out. It has often been directed at protestors by counter demonstrators or heavy handed policing, not instigated by them. Assigning guilt to all Palestinians or their supporters for one individual's actions, is not only wrong, it mirrors the very logic that led to this attack. Targeting people simply because of who they are or what they believe. We've seen this pattern before. During the Black Lives Matter protests or the recent Tesla Takedown campaign, where isolated incidents of violence were used to smear entire movements. These overgeneralizations aren't just intellectually lazy, they're socially destructive. They fuel cycles of mistrust and retribution, that hurts everyone. Unfortunately, these dangerous overgeneralizations are becoming more common. Israeli officials have accused European and other governments of antisemitism, simply for criticizing Israel's actions or considering sanctions. In the US we've seen peaceful pro-Palestinian protestors arrested and labeled as violent or anti-Semitic. These blanket accusations use the same flawed logic as blaming all Jews for Israeli government actions. An approach that is both unjust and dangerous. We can and must do better. We are all capable of holding two truths at once. That we condemn violence against innocent people, always. That we defend the right to peaceful protest and principle dissent, always. We can support Jewish communities without abandoning our support for Palestinian lives and freedom. We can fight antisemitism without silencing legitimate discourse. We can grieve this tragedy without turning it into a weapon. Let's honor the victims, not by deepening the lines of division, but by refusing to let their deaths become fuel for more hate. Justice means holding individuals accountable, not entire communities. Only by rejecting all forms of bigotry and collective blame, can we move toward a future rooted in justice, empathy, and respect for all people. The memory of these victims and our commitment to preventing future tragedies, demands nothing less. Thank you for listening.