Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has blocked the social media accounts of the U.S. Betar movement without providing an official explanation.
The move came shortly after members of the Jewish group posted plans to distribute "pagers" to people they described as "Judeophobes," including Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, with whom the group had recently clashed, as well as pro-Palestinian activists on U.S. college campuses.
Betar activists protest in the Capitol building against Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar
Betar expressed outrage at the move, calling it unjustified. “Why are beepers considered unacceptable? You can buy them on Amazon. It’s like saying Israel can’t respond to terrorism. We are the victims,” a group representative argued, emphasizing that no violent incidents were reported at locations where the devices were distributed.
One of the groups that complained to Meta about Betar's actions is Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at the University of Pittsburgh. The organization claimed that Betar’s activities constituted a "direct threat" to its members and supporters. SJP, known for its criticism of what it calls "Zionist imperialism and U.S.-funded violence," accused Betar of targeting Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab students to intimidate critics of Israeli policies.
Betar, however, alleged that the suspension reflects discrimination against Zionist content on social media platforms. “Groups like Students for Justice in Palestine routinely post material supporting Hamas on these same platforms, while Zionist accounts are blocked without justification,” said Betar spokesperson Daniel Levy. “It seems there are different rules for Jewish users compared to others.”
The U.S. Betar movement says Meta's decision to block its accounts is hampering its efforts, particularly during a time when social media is a critical platform for spreading messages and rallying support. "We need help to get our accounts restored," said Ross Glick, director of Betar U.S.
Meanwhile, New York University (NYU) filed a police report last month over alleged threats and vandalism linked to Betar activists. According to the university's official statement, graffiti reading “Betar was here” was spray-painted on the building of the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World. The report also cited threatening social media posts from Betar warning of plans to "violently disrupt" pro-Palestinian events on campus.
Betar denied involvement in the acts of vandalism but acknowledged responsibility for the social media posts. "We proudly stand against groups like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) that glorify terrorists and promote violence," the organization said. Betar also accused NYU of failing to protect Jewish students and fostering what it described as a “breeding ground for antisemitism.”
Meta has not responded to inquiries about the account ban. Betar activists remain hopeful that a resolution could be found that will allow them to continue their digital advocacy.
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