Jewish Defense League Leader Joins Libertarian Party
The leader of a prominent and controversial Jewish organization has joined
the Libertarian Party. Irv Rubin, International Chairman of the Jewish
Defense League, joined the LP in late 1999. Rubin had been a life-long
Republican. His party switch, he says, was motivated in part by the failure
of the Democrats and Republicans to defend Second Amendment rights, and
also by concern over the erosion of individual liberty in America.
"The attack on the Second Amendment by both major parties is, in my
opinion, intolerable," Rubin said. "[And] my desire for less government and
more freedom for the individual led me to join the party. My
co-religionists need the Second Amendment. And Jews need liberty in order
to survive... the Libertarian approach is important for the entire Jewish
community."
Rubin said he agrees with the Libertarian Party platform on almost every
issue except non-interventionism. Rubin argues the LP should back the U.S.
government's military support for Israel.
The Jewish Defense League was founded in 1968 by controversial Rabbi Meir
Kahane. It opposes anti-Semites, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other
racists, using rallies, demonstration, confrontations, and publicity
campaigns. The JDL, notes LP News, has in the past been both praised and
condemned for its vow "to defend Jewish rights, property, individuals,
institutions, and honor by any means necessary."
(Source: Libertarian Party News, March 2000)
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