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BetarThe 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 Jewish war hero who fell over the defence of Tel Hai coining the phrase: "Never mind, it is good to die for our country". Jabotinsky also wanted to connect the name of the first jewish hero after 2000 years to the name of the last fort of jewish uprising against the Roman Empire in the Bar Kokhba's revolt, showing betar intent to create a new generation of jewish warriors. 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. The Betar offices were bombed by the leftist FLNC , a Corsican terrorist organization. Also, members of Betar assaulted the anti-globalisation activist Jos Bov upon his return from a protest in Ramallah. Betar sponsors sports clubs, the most notable is the popular Beitar Jerusalem football (soccer) club. External link
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