IDF vets train NY Jewish paramilitaries

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Yonatan Stern, the "Sgan Mefaked Hakita" (deputy squad commander) of Kitat Konenut New York, insists his "paramilitary emergency armed response team" is no "group of vigilantes or a JDL (Jewish Defense League)."

"The goal of the organization is to have a competent and professional group of armed volunteers ready to respond to a threat at a moment's notice in any area where Jews reside," explains the Israeli combat veteran.

"We do not carry out demonstrations or political activity of any kind as we have no political agenda. Our agenda is to protect Jews wherever and whenever necessary and by any means needed."

On Friday, the third session of the group's training camp will begin in the Catskills woodlands of upstate New York, on land belonging to a Jewish supporter of the organization. With tuition at $400, the group expects 15 participants and five instructors for the 10 days of training. Participation has doubled since the group began three years ago.

Kitat Konenut New York is modeled on the rapid response teams in the West Bank settlements that are often the first to act when terrorist attacks or other emergencies take place. The group bills itself as religious-Zionist but nonpolitical.

American Jews have "felt a false sense of security in the United States," Stern believes, "because historically there has been less anti-Semitism than in other countries. But there have been incidents - neo-Nazi terrorist attacks, Arab terrorist attacks. Jews have to be vigilant."

more

[Hardrada]

1. Bad precedent.

This could invigorate White Nationalist groups and Klan variants to also form volunteer Freikorps here. These groups are just as paranoid as the one mentioned above. Could make for some interesting history though!

[madeline_con]

2. Is this even legal?

If this group were living in Ruby Ridge, they'd be stopped!

Edited to add:

Maybe they can duke it out with these guys...


A remote Muslim commune nestled in the Catskill Mountains has come under the scrutiny of state and federal authorities for possible ties to terrorism, according to law-enforcement sources.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06042007/news/regionalnews/catskills_site_eyed_regionalnews_john_mazor_and_murray_weiss.htm

[aspergris]

4. yes, it's legal

iirc, the only alleged criminal act by weaver was the purchase of a short barreled shotgun (commonly referred to as a sawed off - which are illegal under federal (and most states I am aware of) law).

citizens have the right to arm themselves. they have the right to patrol. they have the right to protect others. none of this is illegal.

[azurnoir]

5. these groups are legal

it is a second amendment issue

The Second Amendment, as passed by the House and Senate, reads:
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The original and copies distributed to the states, and then ratified by them, had different capitalization and punctuation:

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Both versions are commonly used in official government publications. The original hand-written copy of the Bill of Rights, approved by the House and Senate, was prepared by scribe William Lambert and hangs in the National Archives. In District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court cites the House and Senate text.<9>

The Second Amendment is the only Constitutional amendment that has a prefatory clause. However, such constructions were widely used elsewhere.<6>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

Note though there is nothing that says while you are exercising these rights the government will not have under close surveillance.

Both of these groups are in the Catskills? Almost sounds like the plot to a bad reality show

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Meh.

Sounds like an over-zealous self-defense group. It would really depend on what is actually taught (hate, bigotry, the like) where I would draw the line; otherwise, it is really no different than a self-protection group at the Y.

[bemildred]

6. This guy is confused if he thinks he has no political agenda.

There are few things more political than forming your own militia. Various other political entities will take issue with the notion of wandering Jew-protection squads looking to "protect Jews wherever and whenever necessary and by any means needed." They may feel that it interferes with their own rights and responsibilities in that area.

It is true that if these fellows stick with protecting themselves and their neighborhoods, with due deference to the local police, they are quite within their rights, and I would not take issue with them on that account.

[Crunchy Frog]

7. I think the Unitarians need something like that.