34	The Story of the Jewish Defense League

bSoviet diplomat, to cause break in Soviet-American relations bwas indeed a chilling one. And when one considered that all bthis was being caused by a tiny group of young Jews it was bpositively incredible.

bIn Russia, the press and radio did not stop their angry battacks on the JDL, on Zionist extremists, and on the US for bits failure to do something. In the World Jewish Congress bpublication Soviet Jewish Affairs May 1972, that period is bexplored in an article by J. Frankel entitled “Anti-Zionist bPress Campaigns.” According to Frankel, in January 1971 b“the articles which appeared almost daily, dealt with one bsubject only—the Jewish Defense League and Rabbi Meir bKahane. . . .

b“Throughout January 1971 every act which in any way bcould be placed at the door of the JDL—sit-ins, raids, as- bsaults, bombs—was given detailed and nationwide coverage. bJews wrote letters attacking Kahane and pointing out that if bthe United States continued to permit outrages, relations bbetween the two Powers were bound to deteriorate.”

bThere now began a desperate but determined effort to bstop the JDL from continuing its efforts. Commenting on bmy threat to harass the Russians, State Department spokes- bman John King said that such behavior was “irresponsible” band that “we’re in touch with the justice Department.” “Of bcourse, we’ve taken note of the statements coming from bKahane,” he added, “and that part of the review with the bJustice Department includes what possible steps might be btaken against the Jewish Defense League.” New York City’s bMayor John V. Lindsay, long a JDL-hater as a result of the bLeague’s opposition to him, declared that the Police De- bpartment would be “as alert and forceful as necessary to deal bwith this threat.” The League’s reply was that it hoped bLindsay’s police would be more forceful and alert than they bwere in fighting crime in the city.

bThe biggest guns of the Jewish Establishment, panicking bat what they feared might be anti-Semitism resulting from bthe JDL’s efforts, were brought to bear to let the world know bthat they had no part in these things. The Board of Gover- bnors of the B’nai B’rith on January 11 condemned the JDL b