The movement is called Betar which is an acronym for Brit Yosef Trumpeldor, in memory of the great Jewish hero who fell defending the Galilee Settlement of Tel Hai.

The movement was founded in December of 1923 and has a pure ideology of Zionism untainted by any other ideologies such as socialism, internationalism or conservatism.

Tagar its student affiliate was founded in 1982 as a response to the Israel-bashing which increased on campus following the Peace for Galilee operation and the Lebanese war. Tagar, meaning challenge and tenacity in the face of adversity, is taken from Betar's anthem.