A supporter of Betar rallies on the grounds of the US Capitol during a march on June 25, 2025.
Zionist group threatens pro-Palestinian activists in NYC, what is "Betar"?
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- Betar US settles in New York after harassing pro-Palestinian activists.
- Investigation found repeated targeting based on religion and origin; group denies wrongdoing.
Betar US, a right-wing Zionist group, has reached a settlement with the New York Attorney General’s office to end its operations in the state after investigations revealed harassment and intimidation of pro-Palestinian activists.
The probe found that the organization repeatedly targeted individuals based on religion and national origin, encouraged violence against demonstrators, and sought to intimidate critics online. In one instance, members confronted protesters in Brooklyn over a real estate exhibition linked to lands in the occupied West Bank, raising the flag of the extremist Kach movement.
Historical Origins
Betar was founded in 1923 in Riga, Latvia, by Ze’ev Jabotinsky as part of the Revisionist Zionist movement to promote Jewish immigration to Palestine and establish a Jewish state. The name “Betar” honors Joseph Trumpeldor, a Russian Jewish fighter killed in Tel Hai in 1920, while literally meaning “fortress” in Hebrew.
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The organization merged with the Irgun paramilitary in 1939 and helped lay the ideological foundation for right-wing Zionism. Members included future 'Israeli' leaders such as Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Shamir, and Benzion Netanyahu, father of Benjamin Netanyahu. Betar trained youth militarily, established settlements in Palestine, and organized naval and aviation training centers in Europe and Palestine in the 1930s.
After the creation of 'Israel' in 1948, Betar members joined the army and political movements, including the Herut party and the Nahal Brigade. Its overseas branches focused on youth education, culture, and ideological reinforcement.
Revival in the United States
Betar US was revived in June 2023 by Israeli-American businessman Ron Torossian, with branches in New York, New Orleans, Dallas, and Washington, D.C. Following the 2023–2025 Israeli war on Gaza, Betar US became active in harassing pro-Palestinian demonstrators at universities, public protests, and online, including at UCLA where they confronted students at a “Sukkot” camp supporting Palestine.
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The group also attempted to link Muslim activists to terrorism and reported foreign students and faculty to authorities for deportation. The Anti-Defamation League has classified the organization as extremist.
Legal Settlement
On January 13, 2026, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the settlement requiring Betar to immediately cease incitement, harassment, and threats against individuals exercising their civil rights. A $50,000 suspended penalty applies if Betar violates the agreement. The group is in the process of dissolving its nonprofit operations in New York. Betar denies any wrongdoing, claiming its mission is to combat antisemitism.
Ideology and Goals
Betar combines the military-focused Zionist vision of Jabotinsky and Trumpeldor. The movement seeks to build Jewish leadership, defend Jewish communities, strengthen Jewish identity through education and activism, promote aliyah (migration to 'Israel'), and support settlement development. Today, Betar US primarily confronts pro-Palestinian activism, a focus that led to legal intervention.
