Jewish Defense League Member Indicted For Assault Outside AIPAC Convention
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
By Sam Kestenbaum December 26, 2017
A Canadian member of the Jewish Defense League was indicted by a grand jury in last week in Washington, D.C., for charges that include the assault on a Palestinian-American at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual conference in March.
Yosef Steynovitz faces three assault-related charges, the Canadian Jewish News reported, including attacking a man with a dangerous weapon and beating Kamal Nayfeh, a 55-year-old community college teacher who was reportedly walking to the conference when the attack happened. A photo of the bruised and bloodied face of Nayfeh circulated widely after the incident. At the time, JDL leader Meir Weinstein claimed videos and photos of the incident were incomplete and said his group was acting in self defense.
One of Steynovitz’s charges includes a hate crime enhancement for anti-Arab bias that would lead to a greater penalty if Steynovitz is convicted, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported.
The Jewish Defense League was founded by the ultra-nationalist politician and writer Rabbi Meir Kahane in 1971. According to the FBI, the JDL has been involved in plotting and executing acts of terrorism within the United States. Since Kahane’s assassination in 1990, the group has fractured and has been dormant for years. Over the last months, though — amidst culture wars convulsing the nation — some acolytes of Kahane have sought to bring his ideas back into the mainstream.
Email Sam Kestenbaum at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @skestenbaum
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
