Jewish Defense League

From Free net encyclopedia

(Redirected from JDL)

The Jewish Defense League (JDL) is a militant Jewish organization whose stated goal is protecting Jewish people and property from anti-Semitism.

1 Founding of the JDL
2 History of JDL activities
3 Attitudes towards the JDL
4 Controversies
5 Sources and references
6 See also
7 Sources

[edit]

Founding of the JDL

Image:Rabbi Meir Kahane.jpg JDL was founded in 1968 by Rabbi Meir Kahane. The goal of the group was to protect Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in New York City and to protest local manifestations of anti-Semitism. [1]

The JDL describes itself in its mission statement as "an activist organization dedicated to the protection and defense of the Jewish people in the Diaspora" and vows "no sanctuary for those who threaten or attack Jewish individuals or institutions."

[edit]

History of JDL activities

The Jewish Defense League during the early seventies was infamous for its activities on the behalf of freeing Soviet Jewry from Russia.Template:Fact

[edit]

Attitudes towards the JDL

The JDL's approach has been criticized by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as a "gross distortion" of the situation faced by American Jews. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has added the JDL to its list of watched "hate groups."

[edit]

Controversies

[edit]

Terrorism and the JDL

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has described the Jewish Defense League in Congressional testimony as a "violent" and "extremist" group. In a sidebar in its "Terrorism 2000/2001" report, the Bureau said, "The Jewish Defense League has been deemed a right-wing terrorist group." It identified the group in a 1999 terrorism report as the perpetrator of several bombing and arson incidents that took place between 1980 and 1989. Mary Doran, an FBI street agent, described the JDL in 2004 Congressional testimony as "a proscribed terrorist group," though Doran also acknowledged that she is not involved in "policy and administrative decision-making processes." The group drew heavy criticism for its support of Baruch Goldstein, a JDL member who murdered twenty-nine Muslim worshippers in a 1994 terror attack at the Cave of Patriarchs. The National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT) says in its knowledge base that the last known attack by JDL was on 26 February 1992 and that "(t)oday, JDL is not actively engaged in terrorist actions." The FBI suspects that Arab-American Congressman Darrell Issa was targeted by JDL members who planned then aborted a terror attack against his office [2].

[edit]

Imprisonment and deaths of Irv Rubin and Earl Krugel

On December 12, 2001, Irv Rubin, JDL International Chairman, and Earl Krugel, a member of the organization, were charged with conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism. Authorities claimed that the two planned attacks on Arab-American Congressman Darrell Issa's office and on the King Fahd Mosque in Culver City, California.

Rubin proclaimed his innocence and was reportedly eager to wage a vigorous court battle in his defense. On November 4, 2002, at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, California, Rubin fell 18 feet to the concrete floor below. He was in a coma for ten days before dying on Nov 13. The incident has been ruled a suicide, though some of Rubin's supporters have alleged murder.

On February 4, 2003, Earl Krugel pled guilty to conspiracy and weapons charges stemming from the terrorist plot and was expected to serve up to 20 years in prison. He was killed in an assault at the Federal Correctional Institution in north Phoenix, Arizona on November 4, 2005.

[edit]

Schism

The JDL has been in a state of modest upheaval since Rubin's death. In October 2004, the group split into two factions. One group is led by Rubin's widow Shelley Rubin. The other was formed by Bill Maniaci and is now chaired by Ian Sigel.

[edit]