Overview

• The AZM tribunal unanimously reversed a prior ban on the Betar USA leader serving on the ZOA Coalition slate, with two members recusing and the ruling’s authenticity confirmed to JTA.
• Judges deemed Ronn Torossian’s private messages to Shai Davidai “inappropriate” yet not disqualifying and said selected public remarks targeted issues rather than a rival slate.
• The decision allows him to participate at the 39th Congress in late October, where delegates will debate allocation of roughly $5 billion in Israeli government funds.
• Torossian said he was pleased with the outcome and vowed to attend, the ZOA welcomed the ruling, and Kol Israel criticized it as rewarding “bullying and blackmail.”
• The panel said the reversal does not condone his conduct and urged stronger measures to deter similar behavior, following months of scrutiny of Betar USA’s incendiary posts and confrontations.