Intimidation, Harassment = Fear

"There is a  high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting U.K. interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the U.K. and British nationals as targets. You should remain vigilant at all times."

"Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Canada."

"Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners. You should remain aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities."

British government travel advisory

A person draped in a Union Jack passes the British High Commission in Ottawa after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Photo by DAVE CHAN /Getty

"We are continuing to make sure that we are doing everything we possibly can to keep Canadians safe."

"We understand that these are trying times around the world right now, but the best thing we can do as Canadians is stay true to our values, be respectful of one another, feel each other's pain, and be there to support others through these very difficult times of a rise in hatred, including Islamophobia and antisemitism."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Protesters hold Palestinian flags outside the U.S. Consulate in Toronto on Saturday. (Kyaw Soe Oo/Reuters)

 

At a time when Hamas supporters marching under the guise of pro-Palestinian sentiments have been rampaging through the streets of Canada's cities, chanting phrases for the destruction of Israel, when Islamist thugs threaten pro-Israel counter-protesters, and Jewish community centres and synagogues are fire-bombed, Jewish parochial schools are found with bullet holes shot at their doors, and Jewish university students face harassment and threats and physical violence, while Jewish businesses are boycotted, Canada's prime minister, calling for calm and civility mentions 'Islamophobia' as a concern, before remembering to mention antisemitism.

All the more cynical -- and it would be amusing under less dire circumstances -- when it is Muslims and Islamophiles that are the source of threats to Jews. Perhaps less surprising than it might be in a recollection that this prime minister's father, Pierre Elliot Trudeau invited the UN representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization -- at a time when the PLO was officially designated as a terrorist organization -- to Canada, to speak in Parliament, in 1984.

And it is telling, somehow that the government of Britain views the threat level in Canada assessed by the United Kingdom's intelligence officials to be on the 'high' spectrum, in contrast to Canada's lack of concern. The U.K. government website posting a link to the web page for national terrorism threat levels for Canada where the current level seems to remain stuck at medium: "a violent act of terrorism could occur"; the middle of five levels.

One level up, "high" means a violent act of terrorism is likely, while the highest level, "critical", indicates a warning that an act is highly likely and could occur imminently. The British warning of "very likely" translates as attacks falling between the two highest levels. The current level listed on the Canadian website has been in place at "medium" for about ten years, dating back to October 2014.

During Question Period in the House of Commons the issue was addressed when Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative opposition leader, asked the prime minister whether he agreed with the assessment of the U.K. Foreign Office assessment."Terrorists", noted Mr. Poilievre, "are not interested in feeling other people's pain; they are interested in causing other people pain", inviting the prime minister to expound on the difference in threat level assessment.

 

A pro-Palestinian demonstrator uses a megaphone to address a crowd in Toronto. There were four pro-Palestinian rallies in the city on Friday. (Prasanjeet Choudhury/CBC)

 

"I cannot speak to how other countries make their determination on travel advisories, but I can say that the work is done daily in Canada to assess the threat level to Canadians and what can be communicated to keep them safe. We elevated the threat level to medium in 2014, and it has remained at that level since. Every single day, we re-evaluate and ensure that we are doing everything we can, privately and publicly to keep Canadians safe. We have top security agencies and officials who work daily to re-assess the threat levels to Canadians. They are working every single day to keep Canadians safe and they will continue to keep Canadians informed on the best ways to keep safe."

Statements that will offer no comfort whatever to the Jews in Canada whose children fear attending school because of being bullied by children of Arab or Muslim origins, Jewish students at institutes of higher learning who face harassment and threats from Arab/Muslim fellow students, shopkeepers whose premises see gatherings of protesters blocking access to customers, and Jewish homeowners removing mezuzahs from their door frames because they identify the houses as belonging to Jewish residents.

The threats and the violence and the fear are all real and they are happening on the streets of Canadian cities where confrontations take place that escalate dangerously as some in the pro-Palestinian crowds shout neighbourly blessings such as "gas them" or call for the destruction of Israel. These threats to peoples' safety and comfort living in a country which Jews have been part of since the 16th Century represent a level of implied terrorism, but this government that professes equality among all, has done nothing to quell the violence as a reassurance to Canadian Jews.

The fear of alienating Liberal followers at the ballot box is obviously far more compelling than the protection and reassurance geared toward a portion of the population smaller in number than their opponents. "It's not for the U.K. government to comment upon the Canadian government's assessment of the threat from terrorism", stated a spokesman for the British High Commission in Canada, whose own government has done precious little to reassure their own Jewish population much less protect them from the rabid attacks of U.K. Islamists.

A Pro-Palestinian rally at Queen's Park drew more than 500 people on Friday afternoon. (Prasanjeet Choudhury/CBC)