© THE INTERCEPT has published an article on the Israeli group named Betar, written by John Valdez.
Betar U.S. said it has shared with the Trump administration a list of the “names of hundreds of terror supporters.”
February 6 2025, 10:22 a.m.
Article keypoints:
On January 29, 2024, a vigil was held in New York City to commemorate the death of 6-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza.Simultaneously, President Trump signed an executive order targeting anti-Semitism and illegal immigration.
Key Points
1.Vigil for Hind Rajab: Attendees gathered at Zuccotti Park to honor Rajab, killed last year by the Israeli military.Candles, photos, and art were laid in her memory.
2.Trump’s Executive Order: The order aims to combat anti-Semitism and calls for deportations of individuals who violate U.S.laws.It also seeks to protect against “pro-Hamas vandalism” and scrutinizes colleges for anti-Jewish racism.
3.Response from Betar U.S.: The American branch of Betar dismissed the vigil as a “Jihad rally.” They encouraged their supporters to assist U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in deportation efforts and vowed to document attendees.
4.Heckling at the Vigil: Some attendees faced harassment from counter-protesters, including shouts of “Show us your faces so we could get you deported” linked to Betar’s call for action.
5.Concerns over Free Speech: Advocacy groups worry the environment will suppress political speech.Critics argue that equating anti-Israel sentiments with anti-Semitism undermines actual anti-Semitism concerns.
6.Project Esther Connection: The executive order aligns with Project Esther, which proposes strategies for silencing critics of Israel, including deportation of those supporting Hamas.
7.Targeting Academia: The order directs agencies to monitor colleges and K-12 schools for international students who support Palestine, indicating that schools could be pressured to report students engaging in protests.
8.Investigations Launched: The Department of Education opened investigations into five universities regarding alleged anti-Semitism, marking an early use of the new executive order.
9.Grassroots Campaigns: Groups like Mothers Against College Antisemitism have urged people to report foreign students sympathetic to Hamas.
10.Betar’s Actions: Betar continues to compile a list of critics of Israel for potential deportation and has ramped up threats against Palestine advocates, including monetary bounties for information.
11.Doxing Campaigns: The Shirion Collective also runs a bounty system targeting pro-Palestinian individuals, aiming to reveal their identities.
12.Legal Concerns: Legal experts suggest deportation based on political speech might be unconstitutional under the First Amendment.
The situation reflects increasing tensions over Palestinian advocacy in the U.S., with government actions potentially infringing on free speech. As advocacy groups and university administrations grapple with these challenges, the debate over free expression versus national security escalates.