Irv Rubin
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Irving Rubin (1946 - 2002) was a Canadian political activist who was the chairman of the militant Jewish Defense League in the United States from 1985 through 2002.
His followers view him as an outspoken Jew who confronted anti-Semites directly, with the intent of demonstrating that he would not silently countenance anti-Semitism. Many critics denounced him as a terrorist.
In reference to the 1985 death of Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) official Alex Odeh, JDL chairman Irv Rubin said Odeh "got what he deserved." However, the organization has insisted the attack was committed by others, The FBI has never been able to prove its original allegations against the JDL, given that the original suspects in the case fled to Israel. The crime remains unsolved.
On December 12, 2001, Irv Rubin, JDL Chairman, and Earl Krugel, a member of the organization, were charged with conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism. The two were allegedly caught in the act of planning bomb attacks against the King Fahd Mosque in Culver City, California and on the office of Arab-American Congressman Darrell Issa's office. The two were arrested as part of a sting operation after an FBI agent delivered explosives to Krugel's home in L.A.
The JDL claims the ordeal was caused by rogue elements within the FBI, which conspired to neutralize the JDL by infiltrating the organization.
In November 2002, while in prison in Los Angeles awaiting trial, Rubin allegedly cut his wrists with small razors and jumped off a balcony. The injuries he suffered resulted in his death. The circumstances surrounding his death are not clear and his followers suspect that he was murdered. On February 4, 2003, Krugel pled guilty to conspiracy charges stemming from the plot.
See also: Jewish Defense League
External links
- AP News article on arrest (http://www.hollandsentinel.com/stories/121301/new_121301030.shtml)
- Reuters article on suicide (http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/West/11/04/rubin.suicide.attempt.reut/)
- Anti-Defamation League statement condemning the JDL attacks (http://www.adl.org/presrele/extremism_72/4016_72.asp)
- Memorial site (http://www.irvrubin.com/)
- Jewish Defense League Biography (http://www.jdl.org/information/chairman/bio.shtml)
- Federal case (pdf) (http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/jdl/usrubin011002ind.pdf)
- Federal filing (pdf) (http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/jdl/usrubin121201cmp1.pdf)