Profile
Kahane Chai
From: "Chapter 8; Foreign Terrorist Organizations," Country Reports on Terrorism 2005, US Department of State, April 30, 2006.
a.k.a. American Friends of the United Yeshiva;
American Friends of Yeshivat Rav Meir;
Committee for the Safety of the Roads;
Dikuy Bogdim;
DOV;
Forefront of the Idea;
Friends of the Jewish Idea Yeshiva;
Jewish Idea Yeshiva;
Jewish Legion;
Judea Police;
Judean Congress;
Kach;
Kahane;
Kahane Lives;
Kahane Tzadak;
Kahane.org;
Kahanetzadak.com;
Kfar Tapuah Fund;
Koach;
Meir's Youth;
New Kach Movement;
Newkach.org;
No'ar Meir;
Repression of Traitors;
State of Judea;
Sword of David;
The Committee Against Racism and Discrimination (CARD);
The Hatikva Jewish Identity Center;
The International Kahane Movement;
The Jewish Idea Yeshiva;
The Judean Legion;
The Judean Voice;
The Gomemiyut Movement;
The Rabbi Meir David Kahane Memorial Fund;
The Voice of Judea;
The Way of the Torah;
The Yeshiva of the Jewish Idea;
Yeshivat Harav Meir
Description
Kach's stated goal is to restore the biblical state of Israel. Kach, founded by radical Israeli-American rabbi Meir Kahane, and its offshoot Kahane Chai, (translation: "Kahane Lives"), founded by Meir Kahane's son Binyamin following his father's 1990 assassination in the United States, were declared terrorist organizations in 1994 by the Israeli Cabinet under Israel's Terrorism Law. This designation followed the groups' statements in support of Dr. Baruch Goldstein's attack in February 1994 on the Ibrahimi Mosque (Goldstein was affiliated with Kach) and their verbal attacks on the Israeli Government. Palestinian gunmen killed Binyamin Kahane and his wife in a drive-by shooting in December 2000 in the West Bank.
Activities
The group has organized protests against the Israeli Government. Kach has harassed and threatened Arabs, Palestinians, and Israeli Government officials, and has vowed revenge for the death of Binyamin Kahane and his wife. Kach is suspected of involvement in a number of low-level attacks since the start of the al-Aqsa intifada in 2000.
Strength
Unknown.
Location/Area of Operation
Israel and West Bank settlements, particularly Qiryat Arba' in Hebron.
External Aid
Receives support from sympathizers in the United States and Europe.