ZOA Again Demands that Left-Wing ADL Stop Biased Listing of Betar USA as a Hate Group
ZOA Coalition and the ZOA are very pleased that the American Zionist Movement (AZM) Tribunal unanimously ruled today in favor of ZOA Coalition’s appeal to restore Betar USA leader Ronn Torossian to the ZOA Coalition slate. Betar is an important organization, involved in protecting Jews from antisemitism on the streets and on campuses. ZOA and ZOA Coalition are proud to have successfully stood up for Betar and its leader, and for standing up for all the candidates and organizations on our slate and all like-minded groups and individuals.
Sadly, several months ago, the “Kol Israel” slate (sponsored by the “Stand with Us” organization) filed a claim with the chairs of the AEC (U.S. Area Election Committee) to disqualify Betar USA leader Ronn Torossian, and to throw Ronn off the ZOA Coalition.
Mr. Torossian had criticized a leading member of the Kol Israel/Stand With Us slate for boasting about personally boycotting Israel beyond the pre-1967 Armistice line (meaning boycotting Judea-Samaria and much of Jerusalem). Criticizing positions of parties and candidates is allowed under the applicable election rules. Criticizing candidates for boycotting Judea-Samaria is especially appropriate, in light of the World Zionist Congress resolutions (initiated by ZOA Coalition) to stop WZC delegates and groups from supporting anti-Israel boycotts, including boycotts of Judea-Samaria. Nonetheless, the AEC chairs wrongly and unfairly disqualified Mr. Torossian and threw him off the ZOA Coalition slate, without even specifying how any of Mr. Torossian’s statements violated any election rule.
ZOA/ZOA Coalition attorney Liz Berney immediately appealed the AEC chairs’ wrongful ruling to the AZM Tribunal. Today, the AZM Tribunal unanimously ruled that Mr. Torossian did not violate the election rules, and restored Betar USA’s leader to the ZOA Coalition slate.
Back in February, Mr. Torossian was also subjected to being called extremely vile names by the individual on the Kol Israel/SWU slate who bragged about boycotting Israel beyond the pre-1967 Armistice line. After ZOA brought this up to the AEC chairs, the individual on the Kol Israel/SWU slate resigned.
A continuing disturbing aspect of this matter is the role of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Around the same time when Kol Israel/SWU filed to try to disqualify and remove Betar USA’s leader, the ADL listed Betar USA – which defends Jews – as a “hate group,” along with actual haters such as Louis Farrakhan and David Duke. A leading ADL official is a leading member of the Kol Israel/SWU slate. It is possible that he initiated ADL’s shameful, improper listing of Betar USA as a hate group. In the wake of the AZM Tribunal decision today in favor of Betar USA’s leader, ZOA again urges the ADL to remove its harmful, unwarranted Betar USA hate listing.
ZOA Coalition hopes that all slates and delegates will “bury the hatchet” and work together harmoniously for the good of Israel and the Jewish people at the upcoming World Zionist Congress.