After Betar probe, Jewish group demands investigation of NY anti-Zionist groups

Legal advocacy organization requests state attorney general take action against Within Our Lifetime and Pal-Awda

NEW YORK — After the New York State attorney general investigated the far-right Jewish group Betar, a Jewish legal group on Wednesday demanded probes into two anti-Zionist activist groups.

Attorney General Letitia James announced a settlement in an investigation into Betar on Tuesday. She said the group had targeted people due to their Arab, Muslim and Jewish identities, had agreed to halt those activities, and would be ceasing operations in New York.

“New York will not tolerate organizations that use fear, violence, and intimidation to silence free expression or target people because of who they are,” James said in a statement.

In a letter to James, the National Jewish Advocacy Center requested a similar investigation into Within Our Lifetime and Pal-Awda, two of the leading, hardline anti-Zionist activist groups in New York.

The letter cited 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, intimidation of Jews, confrontations with police 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 said.

“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 said. “The conduct attributed to WOL and Al-Awda reflects the very things you have publicly committed to take on.”

The letter requested a formal investigation into the two groups, to evaluate their compliance with state laws on funding for nonprofits, and a probe into the 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 said.

The Office of the Attorney General said it has received and is reviewing the letter.

Some of Betar’s Jewish opponents welcomed the investigation into the group, while calling for probes into anti-Zionist activists.

“There is no moral justification to the actions of Betar USA, and the extreme right makes life worse for everyone. But so does the extreme left,” said Shai Davidai, a prominent Jewish activist in New York who has feuded with Betar.

“Now it’s time to use the legal procedures that targeted Betar and direct them toward Within Our Lifetime,” he said on X.