• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. US & Canada
  4. ADL debated ending police program in "Israel" over fears of increased brutality
US & Canada

ADL debated ending police program in "Israel" over fears of increased brutality

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 17 Mar 2022 14:52

Executives are questioning whether trips to "Israel" could make US officers "more likely to use force."

  • ADL debated ending police  program in Israel over fears of increased brutality
    Israeli police officers stand guard during a protest 

According to a 2020 document, senior leaders of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a US-based organization claiming it combats antisemitism and tracks extremism, debated whether to end a controversial program that connects American law enforcement officers with Israeli police leaders and military members

For years, the ADL, which works closely with US police on bias and hate crimes training, has sent delegations from US law enforcement departments to "Israel" to “study first-hand Israel’s tactics and strategies to combat terrorism."

The excursions have long been criticized by civil rights organizations in the United States, who claim that the training might push US police to further militarize their forces and worsen police brutality.

According to a draft document acquired by The Guardian and Jewish Currents, two ADL officials questioned if the travels would make American policemen "more likely to use force" and add to the "problem" of police violence during the George Floyd demonstrations in 2020. They pondered campaigning for the program's abolition.

ADL senior vice President George Selim wrote that “in light of the very real police brutality at the hands of militarized police forces in the US, we must ask ourselves difficult questions, like whether we are contributing to the problem,” while the VP of Law Enforcement and Analysis Greg Ehrie, wrote, “We must ask ourselves why it is necessary for American police, enforcing American laws, would need to [sic] meet with members of the Israeli military. We must ask ourselves if, upon returning home, those we train are more likely to use force. We hope that that is not accurate.”

According to the paper, the ADL has taken 500 to 600 police personnel and partners to "Israel" for "educational and training purposes" since 2004. The VPS stated that the visits "built bonds" among police officers but were "of questionable programmatic value." They claimed that the initiative might result in "lost donor revenue" and cost the ADL up to $200,000 per year in staff work, including resources to "defend the trips from controversy." The draft document also stated that it was unclear whether the training encouraged police to confront antisemitism.

According to the draft document, ending the program would be the best way to eliminate a program with "limited impact and high controversy."

Selim and Ehrie reported that after a "thorough assessment", it was best that the program continued with "updated curriculum content." 

The ADL and other police departments in the US have been forced to ask themselves tough questions following the brutal murder of George Floyd. 

Activists have launched a campaign dubbed Deadly Exchange to criticize the ADL's "Israel" travels. A collection of activist organizations, including the Movement for Black Lives, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, started a Drop the ADL campaign in 2020, citing its ties to law enforcement.

The ADL has dismissed the protests and claimed activists misrepresent the program.

Bill Ayub, the Ventura county sheriff in California, revealed that during his ADL training in "Israel", he was "impressed" by invasive Israeli surveillance systems.

Those same systems were found to have been hacking the mobile phones of countless journalists and officials as well as activists. 

  • Memo reveals ADL leaders debated ending police delegations to Israel
    Pegasus

Speaking of the excessive force used by Israeli occupation forces, Ayub said, “We’d be in jail if we did something like that here."

The New York Times reported that the number of people killed by US police officers has not decreased since George Floyd and Daunte Wright's murders in 2020, knowing that many US police violence cases go unreported or misclassified in official records.

Read more: Man dies in police custody after screaming 'I can't breathe', video released

Although ex-officers Derek Chauvin and Kimberly Potter were convicted for the killings of Floyd and Wright respectively, "accountability for officers who kill remains elusive," the newspaper said.

In the meantime, a study conducted by the University of Washington showed that Black people were 3.5 times more likely than white people to be killed by officers.

Read more: Chicago officer to face no charges over fatal shooting of Adam Toledo

  • Israel
  • United States
  • anti-defamation league
  • ADL

Trending Now

All
Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of U.S. Central Command, updates reporters at the Pentagon about the military campaign against Islamic State militants in Iraq, Friday, Oct. 17, 2014. (AP)

US Secretary of Defense in Iraq on an unannounced visit

Most Read

London posts job ad for mercenaries for Ukraine counteroffensive

London posts job ad for mercenaries for Ukraine's counteroffensive

  • Africa
  • 24 May
US seeks to build new military base in Iraq's oil-rich: Sources

US eyes new military base in Iraq's oil-rich region: Sources

  • MENA
  • 23 May
The domestically produced C919 passenger jet flies at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, Peoeple's Republic of China, 8 November 2022. (Reuters)

China is set to launch first commercial flight on its C919 plane

  • Asia
  • 26 May
UK military members board an A400M aircraft after the US and its allies hastily exited Afghanistan, 28 August 2021. (Reuters)

UK special forces involved in covert operations in 19 countries

  • Europe
  • 23 May

Read this

All
Zelensky drafts bill to sanction Iran for 50 years
Politics

Zelensky drafts law to sanction Iran for 50 yrs over 'baseless' claims

  • Today
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures during his first Prime Minister's Questions, in the House of Commons in London, Wednesday, September 4, 2019 (AP)
Europe

UK conservatives prodded for true source of party donations

  • Today
A protest in front of the Antioch police headquarters in Antioch, California on  Tuesday, April 18, 2023 (AP)
US & Canada

US Antioch police dept rife with racism, with nearly half involved

  • Today
A shooting at New Mexico biker rally (Facebook)
US & Canada

New Mexico motorcycle rally shootout leaves three killed, five injured

  • Today
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS