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Jewish Defense League Petitions Justice Department to Oust Arab Exchange Students

October 6, 1969
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A Jewish group which has proclaimed itself the defender of Jewish lives and property in urban ghetto areas has petitioned the Department of Justice to oust Arab cultural exchange students for allegedly violating laws pertaining to resident aliens. A five member delegation representing the Jewish Defense League of New York presented the petition to J. Walter Yeagley of the internal security division of the Attorney General’s office. They said the petition contained 18,000 signatures which they claimed to have gathered during the preceding 10 days.

The delegation was headed by Meir Kahane, an Orthodox rabbi who identifies himself as JDL national director. Presented with the petition was “documentary evidence” purporting to expose close ties between Arab students, Trotskyites, Cuban revolutionaries, pro-Peking and Black militant groups who allegedly want to overthrow the U.S. Government. According to the petitioners, the Arab students “have violated the statutes that regulate their conditions of entry, and we respectfully call upon the Department of Justice to begin the legal moves necessary for deportation of these dangerous students from these shores.” According to the JDL. Mr. Yeagley indicated that if further investigation of the data provided reasonable evidence of violations, proper action would be instituted.

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