New York Attorney General Slams Pro-Israel Group Betar U.S. for Biased Harassment of Arabs, Muslims
The New York State Attorney General's office has announced that it will be dissolving the operations of a pro-Israel group called Betar U.S., citing allegations of biased harassment and intimidation against Arab and Muslim communities.
According to an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General, Betar U.S. had never registered with the state-level Charities Bureau and was found to have engaged in a pattern of violence and harassment driven by explicit hostility towards protected groups. The group's leadership and members were accused of making anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim statements, including using slurs and demeaning language.
Betar U.S., which is the American chapter of an international Zionist group of the same name, was also found to have ties to far-right groups and had been involved in incidents such as doxxing pro-Palestine college students and providing lists of activists to the Trump administration.
The investigation's findings were widely condemned by civil rights groups and other organizations. "New York will not tolerate organizations that use fear, violence, and intimidation to silence free expression or target people because of who they are," said Attorney General Letitia James in a statement.
The group's dissolution comes after Betar U.S. faced increasing scrutiny over its activities and alleged ties to extremist groups. The Anti-Defamation League, which includes Betar U.S. on its list of hate groups, was also critical of the organization's actions.
Betar U.S.'s spokesperson denied all wrongdoing, but did not provide further details. If the group continues its activities, it faces an $80,000 fine and other potential consequences.
The case highlights the growing concern over extremist groups and their influence in the United States. As one expert noted, "This is a wake-up call for everyone to take notice of these kinds of groups and what they're doing."
The New York State Attorney General's office has announced that it will be dissolving the operations of a pro-Israel group called Betar U.S., citing allegations of biased harassment and intimidation against Arab and Muslim communities.
According to an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General, Betar U.S. had never registered with the state-level Charities Bureau and was found to have engaged in a pattern of violence and harassment driven by explicit hostility towards protected groups. The group's leadership and members were accused of making anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim statements, including using slurs and demeaning language.
Betar U.S., which is the American chapter of an international Zionist group of the same name, was also found to have ties to far-right groups and had been involved in incidents such as doxxing pro-Palestine college students and providing lists of activists to the Trump administration.
The investigation's findings were widely condemned by civil rights groups and other organizations. "New York will not tolerate organizations that use fear, violence, and intimidation to silence free expression or target people because of who they are," said Attorney General Letitia James in a statement.
The group's dissolution comes after Betar U.S. faced increasing scrutiny over its activities and alleged ties to extremist groups. The Anti-Defamation League, which includes Betar U.S. on its list of hate groups, was also critical of the organization's actions.
Betar U.S.'s spokesperson denied all wrongdoing, but did not provide further details. If the group continues its activities, it faces an $80,000 fine and other potential consequences.
The case highlights the growing concern over extremist groups and their influence in the United States. As one expert noted, "This is a wake-up call for everyone to take notice of these kinds of groups and what they're doing."
... like, I get that they have a right to express their opinions, but using slurs and harassing people because of their faith or ethnicity? No way, man 
. And doxxing pro-Palestine college students? That's just straight up low 
.
. Now it feels like everyone's so busy screaming at each other, nobody's willing to listen 
.
. We need to protect people from this kind of hate speech and harassment in our communities 
. And yeah, it's a wake-up call for all of us to be more mindful of these kinds of groups 
.
... but hey, progress is progress, right? 
. It's heartening to see the NY State Attorney General taking decisive action, but we must also consider the broader implications of this phenomenon 
. We need to continue to educate ourselves about the tactics employed by these groups and support initiatives that promote tolerance and inclusivity 
We should be able to express our opinions without being bullied or doxxed. I feel bad that those pro-Palestine college students had to deal with this kind of crap. The fact that Betar U.S.'s leadership was accused of using slurs and demeaning language is just ridiculous. It's time for these groups to be held accountable for their actions. If they can't operate in a way that respects everyone's rights, then maybe it's best they shut down shop altogether 
I'm kinda surprised by this turn of events... Betar U.S. was always super outspoken about their support for Israel, but never really thought about the impact it had on other communities 
. It's like, you can't just have one side of the story without considering everyone else's perspective 
. The AG's office is taking the right step by shutting them down 
. Can't we all just try to understand each other better? 
. It's been a thing for years, people just haven't wanted to touch it with a ten-foot pole. The whole pro-Israel scene can get pretty heated and when you're pushing against an already entrenched group of supporters, it's gonna be tough to make headway. I mean, who hasn't seen the way some Jewish groups have treated Arab students on campus? It's just not cool, you know? 
. I mean, using slurs and making anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim statements is NOT okay 
. And its even more messed up when u find out they got ties to far-right groups and were involved in stuff like doxxing college students 
. Im all for free speech but not at the expense of ppl's safety and well-being 
.
.
it's a tough lesson but i think its one we gotta learn from this whole betar us debacle...
. But thankfully the AG stepped in and took action 
.
. Im not even sure what Betar U.S. does but if theyre harassing people just because of their religion or ethnicity thats totally wrong. my mom told me about this group called TikTok and its like a social media app where you can watch videos and stuff 
. I think Ill have to ask her more about it...
.
:
. We need more people like AG James who are willing to stand up for marginalized communities and fight against hate speech and extremism 
.
And that "anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim statements" claim sounds pretty vague to me... can we get some specific examples? 
. its crazy that this group was even allowed to operate without anyone noticing all the shady stuff they were doing 
. lets keep spreading love & acceptance instead of hate & intolerance 