 Several JDL members and leaders died violent deaths, including Kahane himself, who was assassinated by an Arab-American gunman.According to the Anti-Defamation League, the JDL consists only of "thugs and hooligans".The group's founder, Meir Kahane, "preached a radical form of Jewish nationalism which reflected racism, violence and political extremism," attitudes that were replicated by Irv Rubin, the successor to Kahane.