World Bulletin / News Desk

The French leader of the Jewish Defence League, a terrorist organisation, banned in both Israel and the USA for its links to terrorism is on the run in Israel after being charged for violent attacks on Muslims in France.

Joseph Ayache, 30 and three other accomplices were charged Tuesday night, by a Paris court. Ayache fled to Israel before the trial began.

Despite the fact that the group is banned, it is extremely active in France, where its yellow-and-black clenched fist flags are frequently seen at rallies in cities such as Paris and Marseille.

Ayache, who has previous convictions for racist violence, mainly against French Muslims, was found guilty of leading “extremely violent and coordinated attacks” against pro-Palestine activists in Paris.

These ranged from punishment beatings to issuing anonymous terror threats by phone or email, and were aggravated by the use of potentially lethal weapons.

His accomplices, Steve Bismuth, 27, Daniel Benassaya, 30 and Laurent Cashauda, 20, all received suspended sentences after claiming to the 14th Chamber of the Paris Correctional Court that they had changed their ways.

Benassaya and Cashauda each received a six-month suspended sentence for violent acts. Bismuth received a fine of $1,100 for posting a propaganda video of the gang’s attacks online.