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."
....hmmm....formation of ethnic based militias....another milestone on the road to the coming Civil War?
look at this another way: a wedge into the traditionally anti-2nd amendment jewish community.
Booga Booga bump. If you read Tom Chittum’s work that statement might have some relevence. Now of course if these immigrants rely on Abe Foxman’s interpetation America is full of facists and this militia will initiate Sarejavo II.
where in this country are Jews being attacked wherein paramilitary troops are needed?
Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownershipshalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai
Remove the references to Israelis and substitute ordinary American Citizens protecting themselves from crime-bent illegal aliens from south of the U.S. border and watch how fast the are called racists and “xenophobes.”
“where in this country are Jews being attacked wherein paramilitary troops are needed?”
...from the story...
‘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.’
Keep an eye on Crown Heights, B’klyn. Especially if an extended August heat wave hits the Apple. (keyword-Crown Heights)
Amen to that !
“Remove the references to Israelis and substitute ordinary American Citizens protecting themselves from crime-bent illegal aliens from south of the U.S. border and watch how fast the are called racists and “xenophobes.”
....or are removed by direct government asasination...think Ruby Ridge
do they think they will be effective responding to Seattle from NY?
Or do we get Israeli led forces in every town in the USA?
El Al attack in Los Angeles on 7/5/2002.
Attack committed by HESHAM MOHAMED HADAYET.
Three killed.
Lets see, we have Muzzies training in the woods of NY, Jews in Brooklyn, Red Necks in GA, Nazis in Utah. Oh yeah, this is going to be one interesting Country in the next 50 years. I can see it already, drive by militias.
“Or do we get Israeli led forces in every town in the USA?”
These are Americans training to defend themselves and their families. A time honored tradition. The origin of their instructors is not relevant.
FYI: I’m not Jewish. I’m an agnostic American of Scotch-Irish descent, so don’t bother calling me a zionista.
There are more Jews in Brooklyn than in Israel
They have no problem getting all the protection they need from Mayor Bloomberg who is also Jewish as was the former NY gov
Threats to Jews in ny?
Sorry - I ain’t biting
Sounds like a Militia?
That’s a lie
The artcle clearly states these are israeli military led forces
It’s absurd you are making this a 2nd amend issue
Sounds like you got a problem with Jews in general.
Is that you Pat?
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