INFORMER BLAMED IN BOMB SCHEME JDL MEMBERS NOT KILLERS, FRIENDS SAY.Byline: Orith Goldberg and Beth Barrett Staff Writers The attorney for one of two Jewish Defense League The Jewish Defense League (JDL) is a militant Jewish organization whose stated goal is to protect Jews from anti-Semitism.[1] Founded by Rabbi Meir Kahane in New York City in 1968, its self-described purpose was to protect Hasidic Jews from harassment in Brooklyn, and to members arrested in a bomb plot said Thursday that an FBI informant fomented the plot to blow up a mosque and a congressman's office. And a longtime friend of the other suspect, JDL n. 1. Jewish Defense League. leader Irv Rubin Irv Rubin (April 12, 1945 – November 13, 2002) was chairman of the militant Jewish Defense League from 1985 to 2002. Rubin was born in Canada, but after experiencing widespread anti-Semitism in his home city of Montreal, he and his parents and sister moved to the neighborhood , said the activist had frequently condemned Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (1990 pop. 444,719), state capital, and seat of Oklahoma co., central Okla., on the North Canadian River; inc. 1890. The state's largest city, it is an important livestock market, a wholesale, distribution, industrial, and financial center, and a farm bomber Timothy McVeigh Timothy James McVeigh (aka Oklahoma City bomber April 23, 1968 – June 11, 2001), was a former American soldier who was convicted of eleven federal offenses and ultimately executed as a result of his role on the April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City bombing. and was moved by his visit last month to the site of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. ``He'd never do something like this in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , especially after Sept. 11,'' said Alfred Beardsley of Burbank, who has known Rubin for years. As supporters of Rubin, 56, and JDL member Earl Krugel Earl Leslie Krugel (November 24, 1942 – November 4, 2005) was the West Coast coordinator of the Jewish Defense League (JDL). At one time, Krugel was a dental assistant in the San Fernando Valley. , 59, came to their defense Thursday, Jewish groups continued to condemn the alleged plot to bomb a Culver City mosque and the San Clemente office of an Arab-American congressman. ``The idea of anyone targeting innocent civilians ... right here in America is insane,'' said Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center  This article is currently semi-protected to prevent sock puppets of currently blocked or banned users from editing it. in Los Angeles. Krugel's attorney said in a phone interview that the two JDL members didn't want to hurt anyone and that an FBI informant who tape-recorded conversations with the two suspects was actually responsible for the plan. ``(The government) sent this guy in to say he wanted to bomb things,'' attorney Charles Kreindler said. ``They send this guy in in October and he tries and tries and tries to get them to agree to bomb something, and they keep putting him off.'' But Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said the criminal complaint filed against the suspects in federal court ``tells a significantly different story.'' He declined to comment further. The complaint states that the unidentified informant - who was recruited into the JDL as a teen-ager and had previously committed criminal acts for the organization - went to authorities after the bomb plot was well under way. But Beardsley said Rubin, who he described as being ``like a brother,'' wouldn't bomb a mosque. ``Irv's philosophy of life was he wouldn't want anyone to be pushed around by anyone,'' Beardsley said. ``Anyone who really knows Irv knows he's opposed to violence, but he won't run away from violence.'' The last time the two talked was just before Thanksgiving, after Rubin had visited the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , Beardsley said. ``It really moved him,'' Beardsley said. ``He was heartbroken and shocked like everybody else. He spent considerable money and time there. He spoke to firefighters and police, and gave out his business card.'' Beardsley said that during the phone conversation, Rubin spoke naturally and said nothing that would indicate he might be contemplating terrorist attacks. Rubin, a resident of Monrovia, and Krugel were arrested Tuesday night after they met with the FBI informant at Jerry's Famous Deli Wikipedia is not the place for advertisement or self-advertising. Jerry's Famous Deli is a Los Angeles-based delicatessen famous for its huge menu, which boasts over 700 deli and traditional food items. in Encino and discussed plans to blow up the King Fahd Mosque in Culver City and the office of Rep. Darrell Issa, R-San Clemente. The trio arranged to meet again Wednesday to continue their conversation, but law enforcement swept in after the informant delivered 5 pounds of explosive powder - the last component in the bomb - at Krugel's home in Reseda. The suspects are being held without bail on charges of conspiracy to destroy a building by means of an explosive and possession of a destructive device related to a crime of violence. They face up to 30 years in prison if they are convicted. |
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