Region:
Middle East

Status:
Active

Established:
1968

Leaders:
Rabbi Meir Kahane (Jewish Defense League), assassinated in the United States
Rabbi Meir Kahane - radical Israeli-American (Kach)
Binyamin, Meir Kahane's son (Kahane Chai)

Strength:
A few hundred members and sympathizers

History/Notes:
The Jewish Defense League was founded in 1968 by Rabbi Meir Kahane. Kach, which means "Thus," was a fundraising vehicle for Rabbi Kahane; it was never an activist organization in the United States. Kach  and its offshoot Kahane Chai, which means "Kahane Lives" (founded by Binyamin following his father's assassination), were declared to be terrorist organizations in March 1994 by the Israeli Cabinet under the 1948 Terrorism Law. This followed the groups' statements in support of Dr. Baruch Goldstein's attack in February 1994 on the al-Ibrahimi Mosque--Goldstein was affiliated with Kach--and their verbal attacks on the Israeli Government.  The legacy of Kahane Chai is the Judean Voice, a Jewish news service and periodical published by Mike Guzofsky.

Stated Goal(s):
Restore the biblical state of Israel

Location:
Israel

Area of Operation:
Israel and West Bank settlements, particularly Qiryat Arba' in Hebron.

Terrorist Acts:

• misc. protests against the Israeli Government
• threats to Palestinians in Hebron and the West Bank
• threats to attack Arabs, Palestinians and Israeli Government official

1993 - several shooting attacks on West Bank Palestinians in which four persons were killed and two were wounded

Other Links:

Jewish Defense League