Kahane Chai (Kach)

views updated

Kahane Chai (Kach)

Kahane Chai's (Kach) stated goal is to restore the biblical state of Israel. Kach (founded by radical Israeli-American rabbi Meir Kahane) and its offshoot Kahane Chai, which means "Kahane Lives" (founded by Meir Kahane's son Binyamin following his father's assassination in the United States), were declared to be terrorist organizations in March 1994, by the Israeli Cabinet under the 1948 Terrorism Law. This followed the groups' statements in support of Dr. Baruch Goldstein's attack in February 1994 on the al-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.

Kach organizes protests against the Israeli government, harasses and threatens Palestinians in Hebron and the West Bank. Members have threatened to attack Arabs, Palestinians, and Israeli government officials. Additionally, Kach members have vowed revenge for the death of Binyamin Kahane and his wife.

The size of Kach is unknown. They operate in Israel and West Bank settlements, particularly Qiryat Arba' in Hebron, and the group receives support from sympathizers mostly in the United States and Europe.

█ FURTHER READING:

ELECTRONIC:

Central Intelligence Agency. World Factbook, 2002. <http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/> (April 16, 2003).

Taylor, Francis X. U.S. Department of State. Patterns of Global Terrorism 2001. Annual Report: On the Record Briefing. May 21, 2002. <http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/rm/10367.htm> (April 17,2003).

U.S. Department of State. Annual reports. <http://www.state.gov/www/global/terrorism/annual_reports.html> (April 16, 2003).