Following an inquiry by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), New York Attorney General Letitia James has announced a settlement that marks the end of a series of hostile acts orchestrated by a New York extremist group, Betar US. The group's activities included targeted violence, harassment, and intimidation against Arab, Muslim, and Jewish residents. According to the Attorney General's Office official press release, the settlement requires Betar to cease its aggressive tactics and subjects the group to a suspended $50,000 penalty, should they fail to adhere to the agreement's terms.
As part of the settlement, extensive findings from the OAG's investigation, initiated amidst alarms raised in March 2025, uncovered a distressing pattern of violence and biased harassment by Betar targeting protected groups. The members of Betar expressed such deep-seated antisemitism and Islamophobia that some repeatedly termed traditional Palestinian scarves as "rape rags" and professed beliefs that Muslims "hate America," as outlined in the statement from Attorney General James. Moreover, the organization brazenly endorsed violence against Palestinians on their social media platforms, showing contempt for the sanctity of life itself.
The backlash against Betar's activities was not limited to those expressing sympathy for Palestinian causes. Betar targeted Jewish New Yorkers who opposed their extremist ideology, using tactics designed to intimidate and silence them. As per the Attorney General's Office press release, Betar threatened to put Jewish activists on lists to be shared with foreign authorities, in an attempt to bar them from travel. The investigation even revealed that a Betar member had physically harassed a university student, visibly distressed, for simply donning a hijab or keffiyeh.
Betar's coercive strategies extended beyond verbal threats and manifested in physical violence. In early 2025, individuals affiliated with Betar attempted to intimidate people considered Muslim or pro-Palestinian causes with "beepers," referencing a recent overseas incident involving explosive devices. During a Brooklyn protest on February 18, 2025, encouraged by Betar's call to "fight back," a stabbing occurred, and the group later reveled in the pain inflicted, as they celebrated injuries online, Attorney General James declared in the statement. Following this unrest, the organization agreed to halt any instigation of violence or harassment, facing a stiff monetary penalty if they flout the agreement.
Attorney General James underlined the state's zero tolerance for entities that deploy fear and aggression to stifle lawful expressions of free speech, asserting that New York stands as an unwavering defender of civil rights and public safety. The shuttering of Betar's operations in New York and its commitment to disband sends a clear message that hate-fueled violence or intimidation will not go unchecked. Betar, in compliance with the settlement, will also have to submit annual reports to the OAG for the next three years to document adherence to the terms of the agreement, explained in the press announcement.
