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Thursday, January 15, 2026
After probe into Betar, Jewish legal group demands similar investigation of anti-Zionist groups
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After the New York State attorney general probed the far-right Jewish group Betar, a US Jewish legal group demands investigations into anti-Zionist activist groups.
Attorney General Letitia James announced a settlement in an investigation into Betar on Tuesday. She said the group had harassed people due to their Arab, Muslim and Jewish identities, had agreed to halt those activities, and would be ceasing operations in New York.
In a letter to James, the National Jewish Advocacy Center requests a similar investigation into Within Our Lifetime and Pal-Awda, two of the leading hardline anti-Zionist activist groups in New York.
The letter cites antisemitic hate crimes committed by an activist affiliated with Within Our Lifetime, Pal-Awda chanting for Hamas outside a synagogue, the destruction of public property during protests, confrontations with police, intimidation of Jews, and disruptions of public life.
“This is not merely disruptive expression. Leadership of these organizations has repeatedly and brazenly described an intent to use ‘any means necessary’ to target those who support and feel a connection to Israel — an identity commitment that is inseparable for many Jews from Jewish faith,” the letter says.
“In your recent enforcement action involving Betar US, your Office emphasized that New York will not tolerate organizations that use harassment, intimidation, and fear to silence others,” the letter says. “The conduct attributed to WOL and Al-Awda reflects the very things you have publicly committed to take on.”
The letter requests a formal investigation into the two groups, to evaluate their compliance with state laws on funding for nonprofits, and probing communication by the groups’ leaders.
“If violent extremist organizations targeting Jews and Zionists are permitted to operate with impunity, while enforcement is deployed only against those accused of ‘Zionist’ intent, the disparity will increasingly evidence discriminatory intent,” the letter says.
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