The head of Israel’s most vile hate group will finally face justice. Last week, Israel’s Attorney General, Avichai Mandelblit, finally decided to respond to our petition against Bentzi Gopstein, the leader of Lehava, by deciding to indict him on the charges of incitement to terrorism, violence, and racism, as well as obstruction of justice.
For the past eight years, we have been collecting data and fighting Bentzi Gopstein and Lehava. Lehava, which literally means flame, is one of the most dangerous organizations in Israel. It operates under the false pretense of preventing assimilation and “protecting the daughters of Israel” from intermarriage. They use the same tactics and misogynistic buzz as any nationalist hate group around the globe, and we have been pushing for law enforcement to act against them for years. See our video against Bentzi Gopstein and Lehava here.
This is a major victory for IRAC and all Israelis. We congratulate the Attorney General for finally acting against one of the biggest purveyors of racist inciement in Israel. There is no place for hate groups like Lehava who prey on the vulnerable in a democratic society. This is just a first step in taking action against racists like Gopstein – we will not rest unti racism has been eradicated from our society.
Yours,
Noa
PS – We hope to see you at Temple Emanu-El in New York City on December 3 for Three Weddings and a Statement, click here for more information and to RSVP.