New York police arrested Reuven Kahane, the nephew of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, after he intentionally struck a pro-Palestinian protester, 55, following a demonstration outside the home of a Columbia University executive. The incident resulted in minor injuries, and the protester was hospitalized.
According to police reports, a dispute erupted between demonstrators and Kahane. As the protesters sought to disperse, the driver allegedly accelerated toward the crowd, striking one individual. Authorities disclosed that three individuals, including the driver and the injured protester, were taken into custody.
Real estate mogul Reuven Kahane, 57, is charged with second-degree assault after driving his car into the crowd of demonstrators.
Witnesses reported that Kahane approached a group of 25 protesters while still in his Volvo and asked for a flyer they were distributing. When one protester handed him a flyer, Kahane forcefully grabbed it and continued driving. Though the protester managed to escape, Kahane circled back, veered toward the demonstration, and drove his car into the protesters themselves.
The 55-year-old protester attempted to stop Kahane, but he persisted, striking her with his vehicle. Another protester took a position in front of Kahane's car to prevent him from advancing further, leading him to halt his vehicle. Police at the scene then took him into custody.
Since the start of the protest movement on campuses across the United States, Kahane has often used his social media platforms to criticize protesters, even likening them to Nazi sympathizers. Formerly a rabbi in Manhattan, Kahane authored a novel on antisemitism in Russia, Spain and Poland.
He once expressed a desire to move to Israel and engage in politics and business. After completing his studies in the United States, he moved to Jerusalem and opened Bonkers Bagels in Zion Square. However, the business faced difficulties, prompting Kahane to return to America to be closer to his mother and other family members. In New York, he transitioned from the restaurant business to real estate, solidifying his position and even representing a group of investors who sought to purchase the Empire State Building for $2.25 billion.