The Jerusalem Prosecutor has announced plans to file a criminal indictment against the leader of the Lehava organization, Bentzion Gupstein, for breaking laws prohibiting incitement to violence and racism. The Lehava organization actively works to distance Arab males from Jewish females, and according to police, activists are suspected at times of using illegal means to accomplish this. Gupstein is proud of his efforts to prevent assimilation, accusing the prosecution of acting at the behest of officials high in the Reform Movement.

The state’s case is based in part on statements made by Gupstein in support of the actions of Dr. Baruch Goldstein HY”D, who in 1994 shot 29 Arab Muslims dead in the Ma’aras HaMachpelah. Gupstein is also a follower of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane HY”D.

The prosecution has also gathered Lehava literature, which clearly speaks out against romances between Jews and Arabs.

Upon hearing of the planned indictment, Gupstein stated, “Once again, it turns out that the Attorney General and the State Prosecutor’s Office are working for the Reform and were influenced by the pressure. For many years, the State Attorney’s Office believed that my actions were not an offense, but suddenly when the Reform petitioned the State Prosecutor’s Office, they stood at attention.

“I will continue to fight against assimilation and the State Attorney’s Office to know that a struggle for girls is not racism and freedom of expression should also be for right-wingers.”

Gupstein will be represented by attorney Itamar Ben-Givir, who told the press there are countless cases in which Arabs and the leftist media have spoken out against Gupstein, clearly breaking the law but these cases were all ignored to date. He feels that today, clearly, the prosecution is beholden to persons aligned with the Reform Movement.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)