Fact Check: Kach was banned and designated as a terrorist organization for the cave of patriarchs massacre

Fact Check: "Kach was banned and designated as a terrorist organization for the Cave of Patriarchs massacre"

What We Know

On February 25, 1994, Baruch Goldstein, a member of the far-right Kach movement, carried out a mass shooting at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, killing 29 Palestinian worshippers and injuring over 125 others during prayers for Ramadan. This event is widely recognized as a significant act of terrorism and has had lasting implications for Israeli-Palestinian relations (Cave of the Patriarchs massacre - Wikipedia). Following the massacre, the Israeli government condemned Goldstein's actions and the Kach movement. The Kach party was subsequently banned and designated as a terrorist organization due to its extremist ideology and the support expressed by some of its members for Goldstein's actions (Baruch Goldstein - Wikipedia).

Analysis

The claim that Kach was banned and designated as a terrorist organization as a direct consequence of the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre is supported by multiple credible sources. The Israeli government took decisive action against Kach shortly after the massacre, citing the party's extremist views and the statements made by its members in support of Goldstein's actions (Cave of the Patriarchs massacre - Wikipedia, Baruch Goldstein - Wikipedia).

The Kach movement, founded by Meir Kahane, had already been viewed with suspicion due to its radical ideology, which included calls for the expulsion of Arabs from Israel. The massacre intensified scrutiny and led to the formal designation of Kach as a terrorist organization by both Israel and other entities, including the United States and the European Union (Kach Party - The Israel Democracy Institute).

The reliability of these sources is strong, as they include historical accounts and analyses from reputable platforms, including academic institutions and established news outlets. The Wikipedia entries, while user-edited, are well-cited and provide a comprehensive overview of the events and their repercussions.

Conclusion

The claim that Kach was banned and designated as a terrorist organization for the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre is True. The evidence indicates that the Israeli government took this action in direct response to the massacre and the extremist ideologies propagated by Kach, which were highlighted by the actions of Baruch Goldstein.

Sources

1. Cave of the Patriarchs massacre - Wikipedia
2. Who was Baruch Goldstein? Massacre in Hebron
3. Baruch Goldstein - Wikipedia
4. How Extremist Settlers Took Over Israel
5. This Week in History: The second Hebron massacre
6. Cave of the Patriarchs massacre - Wikiwand
7. Kach Party - The Israel Democracy Institute
8. In Depth: The Cave of the Patriarchs Massacre - Israel National News