2025-09-02 12:22 PM <br/> Tags: #AmericanJewry #people ![[image-113.png|513x361]] # Arnold Forster (1912-2010) - Arnold Forster was a New York Jew born Arnold Fastenberg. - Arnold Forster was the long time top [[ADL]] lawyer. - Forster began legal work for the ADL in the late 1930s, joining officially in 1940. - In 1965 Forster recruited future ADL director [[Abraham Foxman]]. - In 1974 Forster co-authored *The New Anti-semitism* with ADL director [[Benjamin Epstein]]. - The term "New Antisemitism" was defined by its addition of anti-Zionist and anti-Israel views. - In 1979 Forster created the ADL's annual "Audit of Antisemitic Incidents." - The ADL's antisemitism reports are the source of headlines like "antisemitism surges 300% this year." - These types of reports will almost always claim an increase in antisemitism. ![[image-114.png|483x476]] *The ADL Audit of Antisemitic Incidents page as I write this.* - Forster was a close ally of [[David Ben-Gurion]], Israel's founding father. - Forster was an active lobbyist of the US government for laws against anti-Israel boycott campaigns. - Forster lobbied particularly for laws banning companies from joining the Arab League Boycott of Israel. - Forster's efforts, along with much of organized American Jewry, culminated in the passing of anti-boycott laws in 1977 and 78. - Forster was involved in the ADL's mass domestic spying throughout the 20th century. - Forster collaborated with the Israeli [[Mossad]], giving them information on former Nazis and perceived enemies of Israel. - In 1983 Forster was on [[Ariel Sharon]]'s legal team in his unsuccessful libel suit against *Time* Magazine. - The suit involved Sharon's alleged involvement in the 1982 [[Sabra and Shatila Massacre]]. #### References - Los Angeles Times. “New Details of Extensive ADL Spy Operation Emerge,” April 13, 1993. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-13-mn-22383-story.html](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-13-mn-22383-story.html) - Oster, Marcy. “Arnold Forster, Longtime ADL Leader, Dies.” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, March 9, 2010. [https://www.jta.org/2010/03/09/united-states/arnold-forster-longtime-adl-leader-dies](https://www.jta.org/2010/03/09/united-states/arnold-forster-longtime-adl-leader-dies?) - “Arnold Forster, Longtime ADL Leader, Dies.” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_ (NY Jewish Week edition), March 11, 2010. [https://www.jta.org/2010/03/11/ny/arnold-forster-longtime-adl-leader-dies-2](https://www.jta.org/2010/03/11/ny/arnold-forster-longtime-adl-leader-dies-2?) - Wall, Harry. “Appreciation: Arnold Forster, ADL Leader and Israel Advocate.” _The Jerusalem Post_, March 14, 2010. [https://www.jpost.com/opinion/op-ed-contributors/appreciation-arnold-forster-adl-leader-and-israel-advocate](https://www.jpost.com/opinion/op-ed-contributors/appreciation-arnold-forster-adl-leader-and-israel-advocate?) - _Haaretz_. “Top American Jewish Lawyer Arnold Forster Dies at 97,” March 8, 2010. https://www.haaretz.com/2010-03-08/ty-article/top-american-jewish-lawyer-arnold-forster-dies-at-97/0000017f-ee40-d3ff-a7ff-fe6fc0110000 - Anti-Defamation League. “Audit of Antisemitic Incidents.” _ADL_, n.d. [https://www.adl.org/audit-antisemitic-incidents](https://www.adl.org/audit-antisemitic-incidents?) - Slater, Robert. “Ariel Sharon vs. Time: A Personal Perspective.” _The Jerusalem Report_ (The Jerusalem Post), January 22, 2014. [https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/israel/ariel-sharon-vs-time-a-personal-perspective-339032](https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/israel/ariel-sharon-vs-time-a-personal-perspective-339032?)