Founded by Meir Kahane in New York City in 1968, the JDL's self-described purpose was to protect Jews from local manifestations of antisemitism. Its criticism of the Soviet Union increased local support for the group, transforming it from a "vigilante club" into an organization with a stated membership numbering over 15,000 at one point. The group took to bombing Arab and Soviet properties in the United StatesHewitt, p. 65 while assassinating a variety of alleged "enemies of the Jewish people" ranging from Arab-American political activists to neo-Nazis.Nasseph McCarus, Ernest. The Development of Arab-American Identity. 1994, pp. 180–3 A number of JDL members have been linked to violent, and sometimes deadly, attacks in the United States and in other countries, including the murder of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee regional director Alex Odeh in 1985; the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre in 1994; a plot to assassinate U.S. Representative Darrell Issa in 2001;Kushner, Harvey W. Encyclopedia of Terrorism. 2003, pp. 192–3 and a plot to bomb the King Fahad Mosque in Culver City, California. In 1990, Kahane was assassinated by an Egyptian-American gunman at a hotel in New York City.
Founded by Meir Kahane in New York City in 1968 the JDL's self-described purpose was to protect Jews from local manifestations of antisemitism Its criticism of the Soviet Union increased local support for the group transforming it from a "vigilante club" into an organization with a stated membership numbering over 15000 at one point The group took to bombing Arab and Soviet properties in the United StatesHewitt p 65 while assassinating a variety of alleged "enemies of the Jewish people" ranging from Arab-American political activists to neo-NazisNasseph McCarus Ernest The Development of Arab-American Identity 1994 pp 180–3 A number of JDL members have been linked to violent and sometimes deadly attacks in the United States and in other countries including the murder of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee regional director Alex Odeh in 1985; the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre in 1994; a plot to assassinate US Representative Darrell Issa in 2001;Kushner Harvey W Encyclopedia of Terrorism 2003 pp 192–3 and a plot to bomb the King Fahad Mosque in Culver City California In 1990 Kahane was assassinated by an Egyptian-American gunman at a hotel in New York City