Betar

The Betar Movement (בית"ר, also spelled Beitar) was founded in 1923 in Riga, Latvia, by Zionist leader Ze'ev Jabotinsky. The Movement quickly established a reputation as the premier activist Zionist youth organization, a position that it has maintained to this day. Betar members played vital roles in the struggle against the British Mandate and the establishment of the State of Israel.

During World War II, Betar members, former Polish officers, founded Zydowski Zwiazek Walki (Jewish Fighting Union) which fought in Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

The name Betar בית"ר stands for "Brit Yosef Trumpeldor" ( ברית יוסף תרומפלדור ). Joseph Trumpeldor was an Israeli war hero who fell over the defence of Tel Hai coining the phrase: "Never mind, it is good to die for our country".

Many of Israel's most prominent public figures have been graduates of the Movement, including former Prime Ministers Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir and former Defence Minister Moshe Arens.

Today, the Betar Movement is primarily involved in Jewish and Zionist education and activism and has chapters worldwide.

In France, members of the Betar have clashed with pro-Arab supporters and the leftist French National Liberation Front (FLNC), a Corsican terrorist organization, including bombings of Betar offices, and a Betar assualt anti-globalisation activist José Bové.

Betar also sponsers sports club, the most notable is the popular Beitar Jerusalem football (soccer) club.