Far-right pro-Israel group Betar US to end activity in New York: NY AG says
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/14/far-right-pro-israel-group-betar-us-to-end-activity-in-new-york-ny-ag-says
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather at Columbia University in New York City, US, in October 2023
New York Attorney General Letitia James says that her office has reached a settlement with the pro-Israel group Betar US over the alleged harassment of pro-Palestinian activists that will see the far-right Zionist group gradually shutter its operations in the state.
James said in a statement on Tuesday that an investigation found that the group engaged in “widespread persecution” of Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, and Jewish New Yorkers.
“New York will not tolerate organizations that use fear, violence, and intimidation to silence free expression or target people because of who they are,” James said.
“My office’s investigation uncovered an alarming and illegal pattern of bias-motivated harassment and violence designed to terrorize communities and shut down lawful protest.”
Betar US gained a reputation among pro-Palestinian activists as an especially aggressive example of groups that use surveillance and harassment to stifle critics of Israel. The far-right group also gained attention on social media, where it relished attacks on its enemies and embraced the language of vengeance and retribution.
“Not enough,” the group said in a deleted social media post responding to a list of Palestinian children killed in Gaza. “We demand blood in Gaza!”
The statement from James’s office says that the group is seeking to dissolve its not-for-profit corporation, has indicated it is “winding down” operations in New York state, and will cease harassing individuals exercising their constitutional rights.
James said the group will be forced to pay a suspended $50,000 penalty if it violates the settlement.
Palestinian factions agree on membership of Gaza post-war governance committee, Egypt says
https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260114-consensus-reached-on-gaza-post-war-governance-committee-egypt-says
Egypt said Wednesday that all the members of a 15-person Palestinian technocratic committee meant to administer post-war Gaza had been agreed upon by all Palestinian factions, who swiftly offered their support.
Under a 20-point Gaza truce plan brokered by US President Donald Trump in October, the Palestinian territory would be governed by the committee operating under the supervision of a so-called "Board of Peace", to be chaired by Trump himself.
Meanwhile, Trump's envoy said Wednesday that the plan to end the Gaza war was now moving to Phase Two with a goal of disarming Hamas, despite a number of Israeli strikes during the ceasefire.
"We are announcing the launch of Phase Two of the President's 20-Point Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction,"
Phase Two "begins the full demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza, primarily the disarmament of all unauthorized personnel."
"The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations, including the immediate return of the final deceased hostage. Failure to do so will bring serious consequences," he said.
