Democrat megadonor Alex Soros, son of billionaire George Soros, made headlines after a tragic event involving two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. His reaction to the killing of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky has drawn fierce backlash online, with critics questioning his philanthropic ties.
According to Fox News, Soros publicly condemned the murder of the two Israeli staffers, calling it "evil in its most basic form" and denouncing it as a "brutal antisemitic act." Detractors, however, quickly pointed to his role as chairman of the Open Society Foundation, which has funded groups often accused of fostering anti-Israel sentiment.
The shooting occurred Wednesday night outside the Capital Jewish Museum, where Milgrim and Lischinsky, who were reportedly set to be engaged, were killed as they left an event. Authorities identified Elias Rodriguez as the suspect, who was heard shouting "Free, free Palestine!" while in custody, according to police and witnesses.
Critics wasted no time condemning Alex Soros’s statement, arguing that his foundation’s financial support for organizations critical of Israel and supportive of Palestinian causes indirectly fuels the kind of hatred that leads to violence. Social media platforms were flooded with comments accusing Soros and his father of enabling anti-Israel activism through their global influence and funding.
One user, Joseph Janecka, responded to Soros’s post by saying, "Alex, you and your father created this problem through the ruthless and international silencing of critics to open borders policies. Their blood is on your hands as much as their murderers. We will never forget." Another, Carl Wheless, echoed similar sentiments, stating, "You are behind the hate, so excuse us if you don't wish to hear from you on the matter."
Some critics went further, alleging links between Soros-backed organizations and more radical elements. Commentator Eitan Fischberger asserted that Soros "funds the revolutionary Marxist group the shooter belonged to," though police had not established Rodriguez’s affiliations at the time.
The Open Society Foundation, chaired by Alex Soros, has a long record of supporting progressive and leftist causes worldwide. Among these are groups such as Human Rights Watch and J Street, both of which have drawn criticism from Israeli officials for their stances on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel’s minister of diaspora affairs and social equality, Amichai Chikli, told Fox News Digital in 2023 that Alex Soros appears set to continue his father’s "anti-Israel agenda." Chikli argued that the OSF funds entities that accuse Israel of apartheid and seek to delegitimize the state. He pointed specifically to Human Rights Watch, accusing it of "attacking Israelis heavily and attacking Israel as an apartheid state and delegitimizing and demonizing Israel."
Chikli also highlighted OSF’s support for J Street, a U.S.-based advocacy group that describes itself as pro-Israel but is frequently criticized for policies perceived as favorable to Iran and the Palestinians. The Soros foundation’s funding of the NGO Adalah was also cited, with Chikli describing it as "denying the vision of Israel as a Jewish state."
The debate over Soros’s influence has reached diplomatic circles as well. In December 2023, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., Gilad Erdan, blasted the elder George Soros for donating more than $15 million to NGOs that he claims support Hamas and seek the "destruction of the State of Israel as a Jewish state." Erdan charged that Soros-backed organizations have never pursued real peace but instead promote the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement to isolate Israel.
Israel’s ambassador Gilad Erdan told Fox News Digital, "George Soros’ donations to organizations that seek the destruction of the State of Israel as a Jewish state is shameful. However, I am not surprised."
Others, however, defend the mission of the Open Society Foundation as one of promoting human rights and open debate, asserting that criticism of Israeli government policy is not synonymous with antisemitism. Soros’s defenders claim that attempts to link him to violence are politically motivated and misrepresent the foundation’s intent.
The killings of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky outside the Capital Jewish Museum shocked both the D.C. community and the global Jewish diaspora. Police quickly detained the suspect, Elias Rodriguez, who reportedly shouted pro-Palestinian slogans during and after the attack. The victims, both young Israeli Embassy staffers, were about to get engaged, adding a heartbreaking dimension to the tragedy.
Local and international leaders expressed outrage, with Israel’s Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, calling the deaths "a result of brainwash" in an interview with Fox News. The attack also reignited debates about rising antisemitism, the safety of Jewish communities worldwide, and the impact of charged rhetoric on real-world violence.
Meanwhile, anti-Israel protests and demonstrations, often supported by groups receiving OSF funding, have become increasingly visible in major U.S. cities, including New York. Critics argue that such demonstrations provide cover for antisemitic acts, while supporters insist they are legitimate expressions of opposition to Israeli policies.
