Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Prisoners' Information Office: Four of his ribs were broken
Palestinian Prisoners' Information Office: Marwan al-Barghouti lost consciousness after a brutal assault by Israeli occupation soldiers
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip have not stopped, and just a short while ago, fishermen came under fire from boats
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces carry out a large explosion in the eastern neighborhood of the town of Mays al-Jabal in southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Israeli political leadership decides to open Rafah crossing “as planned” and transfer aid to Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media: Three Palestinians were killed after being targeted by Israeli drone fire in the al-Shujaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City
Nicolas Maduro: The Palestinian cause is the most sacred cause for humanity, and we propose sending teams of builders, farmers, and doctors to Gaza to help the people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: IOF infiltrate Khallet Wardeh towards the municipality in the town of Aita al-Shaab, south of Lebanon.
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh

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

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

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

  • x
  • 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." 

Related News

Pfizer CEO urges closer US-China collaboration in biopharma

Cuba confirms departure of Jose Daniel Ferrer to Miami

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

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl

The Life of a No-Girl: The one verse Taylor Swift refuses to sing

  • Arts and Culture
  • 8 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Freed Palestinian detainee al-Arida expresses gratitude to Al Mayadeen.
Politics

Freed Palestinian detainee Mahmoud al-Arida salutes Al Mayadeen

Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez gestures as he speaks at the Global Progress Action Summit, in London, Friday, September 26, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Spain to maintain arms embargo on ‘Israel’ despite ceasefire

Israeli excavators work in the Gaza Strip as the sun sets, seen from southern occupied Palestine, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian clans condemn chaos in Gaza, back security forces

The sun sets behind buildings destroyed during the Israeli aggression in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Tuesday, October 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime cuts Gaza aid to 300 trucks, blocks fuel and gas

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

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