New York's Attorney General, Letitia James, has announced a major settlement with the far-right pro-Israel organisation Betar US, compelling it to wind down its operations in the state. The move follows a damning investigation which found the group engaged in a pattern of "bias-motivated assaults, threats, and harassment" directed at Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, and Jewish residents.
Settlement Terms and Group's Dissolution
The settlement, announced on Tuesday, mandates that Betar must "immediately cease instigating or encouraging violence against individuals, threatening protesters, and harassing individuals exercising their civil rights." The agreement subjects the group to a suspended penalty of $50,000, which will be enforced if the terms are violated.
Critically, the Attorney General's office stated that Betar is now seeking to dissolve its not-for-profit corporation and is winding down all activities in New York. This marks a significant conclusion to a probe that began in March 2025, initiated after multiple complaints about the group's conduct at protests related to Israel and Palestine.
Investigation Uncovers Alarming Pattern of Conduct
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) investigation determined that Betar—labelled an "extremist group" by the Anti-Defamation League—"repeatedly targeted individuals based on religion and national origin." The evidence revealed what officials described as widespread persecution driven by hostility towards protected groups, in clear breach of New York's civil rights laws.
Specific findings included the group publicly circulating content that celebrated violence against Palestinians, including social media posts mocking civilian deaths and calling for further bloodshed. Investigators also uncovered multiple incidents of physical intimidation and assault.
One disturbing incident involved individuals affiliated with Betar attempting to force "beepers" onto people perceived to be Muslim or supportive of Palestinian causes—an apparent reference to a deadly 2024 Israeli military operation. In another, after a member of Betar's national leadership struck a woman wearing a keffiyeh, the group celebrated the attack by sharing the footage online.
Background of Intimidation and Chilling Free Speech
The Guardian had previously reported in March that Betar claimed to have submitted a list of "thousands of names" of students and faculty to the Trump administration, urging the deportation of those they believed had participated in campus protests against Israel's war in Gaza. The group also took credit for the arrest of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil.
While Betar later disavowed some claims about using facial recognition AI, the OAG concluded this conduct was designed to intimidate protesters and unlawfully chill First Amendment rights. The investigation also found Betar encouraged members to bring weapons like knives and pepper spray to protests.
Despite actively soliciting donations in New York, the group had never registered with the state's Charities Bureau.
In a statement following the settlement, Betar spokesperson Daniel Levy said the group "categorically denies all allegations of wrongdoing" and reaffirmed its commitment to Zionism. On social media, Betar stated it had voluntarily withdrawn from New York and advised other Zionist organisations to do the same.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani welcomed the settlement, stating Betar had for years "sown a campaign of hatred across New York, trafficking in Islamophobic extremism." Attorney General James was unequivocal: "New York will not tolerate organizations that use fear, violence, and intimidation to silence free expression or target people because of who they are."
