The Jewish ( mostly Yiddish ) press tended to portray the group as " a gang of fanatic , insolent hoodlums " and although the battalion was sometimes involved in violence it acted largely " as patriotic watchdog , barking loudly and baring its teeth but seldom actually biting . " On 15 August 1929 , the Jewish fast of Tisha B'Av , 300 youths led by Jeremiah Halpern , who were mostly from the Battalion with some from Betar and other youth movements , made political speeches , raised the Zionist flag and sang the Zionist anthem at the Wall . A counter-demonstration by Muslims on the following day was followed by violent incidents and subsequently led to the 1929 Palestine riots and especially the destruction of the Jewish community in Hebron
1929 Palestine riots
1929 Palestine riots
Battalion for the Defence of the Language