Posted on 07/27/2008 8:41:08 AM PDT by ChicagoHebrew
onatan 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]." Members of Kitat Konenut New...
Members of Kitat Konenut New York pose in a photo posted on the group's Facebook page. Photo: Courtesy Slideshow: Pictures of the week
"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."
"The threat is not from the American people or government," he adds, but from "terrorist sleeper cells that want to target Jews. These people are very dangerous and the FBI issues warnings against them very often," he said, citing the FBI's warning, after the killing of Hizbullah operations chief Imad Mughniyeh in Damascus in February, that the Lebanese group might carry out terror attacks on Jewish communities.
"The average American is friendly to Jews, but we're worried about those individuals on the periphery of society," Stern says.
The group was founded in the summer of 2006 in response to the shooting attack at the Jewish federation of Seattle premises by local Muslim Naveed Haq.
"We realized there is a need for this kind of organization, and as Israeli combat veterans living in the US, we have the skills and ability to respond to this," Stern says.
The group's MySpace page details the camp's regimen, which includes training in the IDF's Krav Maga martial art, use of non-lethal weapons and identification of suspicious objects, but also sharpshooter and assault rifle training, infantry exercises and endurance marches. Explanatory literature lists a large number of weapons with which participants can expect to train.
"We believe all Jews in the US must be legally armed and trained," Stern says, "and towards this goal we hold paramilitary training camps to train and equip Jewish American youth."
The group's literature notes emphatically that all firearms used in training "are 100% legal and in compliance with all federal, state and local laws."
"We strongly believe in the constitutional right to bear arms and we express this right to its fullest," it adds.
The group claims to be "well-connected with the New York police and fire departments" and it invites "all members of the law enforcement community to join in our life-saving activities."
Stern says, "We are all legally armed and carry radios and cellphones" during all hours of the day, and even on Shabbat, "as we need to be constantly ready to respond to any incident."
The camp literature also promises discussions on Torah and Halacha, understanding and confronting terrorism, fighting anti-Semitism, the history of the Zionist movement in the Land of Israel, and encouraging participants to "know your rights and learn how every American can and must be legally armed and how to express the Second Amendment" - the right to bear arms.
Funded by tuition money and a handful of private donors, the group does not exclude secular Jews, Stern says, but asks that they respect the Orthodox nature of the camp by observing Shabbat in public and refraining from bringing non-kosher food.
"We wouldn't have a problem with non-Jews coming either," says Stern, "but no non-Jew has applied thus far."
Maybe some folks can’t READ!!! :
“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.”
Maybe some folks are just anti-gun...
Don’t get your knickers in a bunch...it’s obvious to quite a few of us old vets that you are dealing with a limp-wristed NYC “Bloomie” guy. Just keep on keeping on.
To what country do you pledge allegiance?
When Dinkins was Mayor, it was open season on Jews in Crown Heights Brooklyn, and in Harlem, where Rev. Sharptone urged attacks on them.
Again, Freepers should be encouraged that "not all Jews" oppose the 2nd amendment.
Uh, no.
hooboy
Now we have the israelfirsters saying IDF paramilitary in this country contitutes a state militia
Is that like obamas 57 states?
PS. Where do all the Israel Firsters fall on the issue of the US warship that was attacked by the IDF?
We have lost thousands of Americans in the war on terror
Let the IDF go to Iran before they come to the US
If they had no problem getting all the protection they need, they wouldn't see the need to prepare. Anyone who relies on the cops to proactively protect them is a fool. Call 911 and Dominoes, and see who gets there first.
I wouldn't classify NYC's and NY State's unconstitutional infringements of the 2nd Amendment as providing protection.
“””There are more Jews in Brooklyn than in Israel””
is a Spamalot Lie and the usual anti-jew attempt ie. ‘brooklyn settlers’.
There are about as many Jews in the USA as in Israel (about 5 milion).. not even close in “Brooklyn”.
Also, no matter who's training them, they're no threat to me. If things get rowdy in the U.S., I hope to have them on our side.
Another socalled Freeper that wants IDF paramilitary in the USA
What is going on here?
This is nothing short of treason
“”Another socalled Freeper that wants IDF paramilitary in the USA””
Self-Defense?
Right to Bear Arms?
Glad to see some Jews Exercise their second amendment rights? (Like Everyone ELSE)
Getting ready for riots when Oblama’s/Osama’s loss comes election time?
These citizens are IDF-trained, not IDF-enrolled. If there's anyone that is better than the IDF at this sort of training, they haven't shown up yet.
AND they're doing what EVERY able-bodied real American should be doing - preparing for their obligation as a member of the militia, if not for their own protection, that of their families, and that of their community.
Where did you dream up that definition of treason, from your so-called education? Real treason is found at the hand of those who would abrogate the individual's natural right to self-defense, and who refuse to protect this country; looks like that shoe fits you pretty well.
Read the freakin' article, moron. Quit projecting your inadequacies and fears on the Real FReepers around here.
Marking interest on the thread.
They’ll be receiving an e-mail and Myspace request from me later in the day.
I’m interested
I’d follow somebody from the IDF, especially their Special Forces.
Have you seen some of their women? *drools*
Yep.
Yes, Islamberg, somewhere upstate NY.
These things worry me. That’s the only Islamic camp I personally know of in the United States.
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