Betar Extremists Shut Down After Harassment Campaign

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James has effectively dismantled Betar US (Betar), a self-proclaimed “activist movement” exposed for a relentless campaign of violence, harassment, and intimidation targeting Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, and Jewish New Yorkers. The settlement, announced today, brings an end to the group’s reign of terror, stemming from an extensive investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

The OAG investigation, launched in March 2025 after a flood of complaints, revealed a disturbing pattern of bias-motivated attacks. Betar, labeled an “extremist group” by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for its blatant Islamophobia, actively sought to silence dissent and terrorize communities, particularly surrounding protests related to Israel and Palestine. The group publicly called on supporters to “attend and disrupt” pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and despite soliciting donations through its website and social media, never registered with the OAG’s Charities Bureau.

Evidence uncovered by investigators painted a chilling picture of explicit hostility. Betar leadership and members routinely spewed anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim animus, employing slurs and demeaning language. The OAG found members repeatedly referred to keffiyehs – traditional Palestinian scarves – as “rape rags” and falsely claimed that Muslims “hate America.” Social media accounts linked to Betar openly celebrated violence against Palestinians, mocking civilian deaths and even stating that the number of babies who had died in Gaza was “not enough,” demanding “blood in Gaza.”

The bigotry wasn’t limited to one group. The investigation also revealed Betar’s targeting of Jewish individuals who voiced opposing viewpoints. The group threatened to place Jewish activists on lists to be shared with foreign authorities, aiming to bar them from travel and silence them through intimidation. In private communications, Betar leadership brazenly admitted to this practice, confirming they specifically targeted Jewish New Yorkers deemed insufficiently aligned with their ideology. “Of course we place Jews on lists,” one leader wrote.

Under the terms of the settlement, Betar is legally obligated to immediately cease instigating or encouraging violence, threatening protesters, and harassing individuals exercising their civil rights. The organization faces a suspended $50,000 penalty that will be enforced should they violate the agreement. Notably, Betar is actively seeking to dissolve its not-for-profit corporation and has indicated to the OAG that it is winding down 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,” Attorney General James stated firmly. “My office’s investigation uncovered an alarming and illegal pattern of bias-motivated harassment and violence designed to terrorize communities and shut down lawful protest. This behavior is unacceptable, and it is not who we are as New Yorkers.” James pledged to continue utilizing every available tool to protect the civil rights and public safety of all New Yorkers.