Sending That Critical Message To Iran

"This is an opportunity to create a new American-led regional security alignment against Iran if we can take advantage of it."

"Who would ever have thought that we would be part of a coalition that included the United Kingdom and France and Jordan and maybe other Arab countries?"

Chuck Freilich, former deputy head, Israel National Security Council

 

"Our allies do not want us to go for an over-the-top response and we want to work with our allies, especially after the success we enjoyed with them."

"We don't have to have cause casualties, but it's important that we do respond, because it sends a message to all those who want to harm us."

Israeli official

 

"On different levels of intensity, Israel has been fighting Iran for years. It will not stop tomorrow or the next day. And it will not stop if Israel reacts right now."

"We cannot be confused here. Iran has escalated the war. But Israel needs to act smartly in order to strengthen the regional and global front against them."

Yair Golan, former deputy IDF chief of staff

Israel PM Netanyahu convenes war cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv

Israel's war cabinet has been deliberating to find a solution somewhere between its need to respond to Iran's blatant, potentially destructive act of war, and the urging to exercise restraint in its response, by its collegial supporters both in the West and in the Middle East. How to respond to the psychologically devastating aerial assault by the Islamic Republic and yet prevent distancing its international allies, thus squandering an opportunity for a much-needed strategic international alliance against Iran is the puzzler for wise minds to prevail.

 

The Israel Defense Forces has been tasked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to provide a schematic of target options in line with the government searching out options that would "send a message", yet not be the cause of mass casualties. Options such as a strike on a facility in Tehran, even a cyberattack of destructive importance. "Everyone agrees that Israel must respond. How to respond, when to respond, is the question", articulated an unnamed Israeli official, unauthorized to speak.

Limited material damage resulted from the five-hour aerial onslaught, repelled by an international alliance including the U.S., France and Britain, assisted by Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE; a model of coordination pitted against Iran, that analysts describe as an unprecedented strategic opportunity for Israel to be embraced by the international fold following frictions over its invasion of Gaza in its war against Hamas.

 

Israel's hugely successful air defences along with the allied response repelled the attack, enabling Israel to respond from a position of confidence while European leaders reiterated concerns relating to t he potential for a spiral in the regional security situation. "We are urging them as friends to think with head as well as heart, to be smart as well as tough, and to recognize that Iran suffered this defeat, because the attack was a failure", said British Foreign Secretary David Cameron. "The right thing to do is not to escalate."

 

Israel faces a multi-pronged challenge in that even if it struck Iran hard, it still must face Tehran's regional proxies, even aside from the looming reality of Iran's nuclear program. Israelis have experienced a shattering of their sense of security in the wake of the Hamas-led assault on October 7. The Israeli public breathed a sigh of relief after the intensity of Saturday/Sunday's extreme events, somewhat restored in their nation's success repelling the attack.  

"I think we did avoid something terrible Saturday night."

"It was like the world remembered that we are the ones under attack for a minute. I hope it changes something, I hope it ends the war."

"But I don't think anything can change until our hostages are back with their families."

Yosef Levy, student, Jerusalem

The Rise of Antisemitism in Canada

"We think the situation [rampant antisemitism] now is more critical [currently than was the case in 2021 at Canada's first antisemitism summit], and we point to police statistics to make our case."

"We feel that our demand [to convene a second national antisemitism summit] will be well-received by elected officials."

"It's critical to get stakeholders all at the same table."

"The fight against antisemitism is everyone's fight."

Marvin Rotrand, interim director-general, United Against Hate Canada

 

"We know that an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us."

"If someone hates a person for being Jewish, they're going to hate me for being Chinese, someone else for being Filipino, and so on."

"The action summit must address the alleged confusion about what that chant ["From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free"] means and remove the excuse for inaction, so that the people we trust to keep us safe and uphold our laws can do so with full clarity." 

Member of Parliament Kevin Vuong

Ottawa police officers keep watch as crews clean anti-Israel grafitti painted on the office tower housing the Israeli embassy on O'Connor Street in downtown Ottawa, Ont. on Monday, April 15, 2024. Photo by Bryan Passifiume /Postmedia Network

A call has arisen to convene a second Canadian national antisemitism summit in the wake of the wave of antisemitism that has swept through Canada following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack in southern Israel that left 1,200 Israeli children, women, men, and the elderly dead. A sinister paroxysm of sadistic savagery unlike anything witnessed before, as Palestinian terrorists gang-raped, mutilated and murdered girls and women in Israel, and burned families alive in their homes on that unforgettable day.

An open letter signed by 200 politicians, community and spiritual leaders called for another antisemitism summit. With it came a motion set to be tabled in the Senate of Canada. A call for Canada's antisemitism envoy, Deborah Lyons via an open letter, urged that a follow-up meeting to continue the work of the initial summit held by former envoy Irwin Cotler, Canada's long-time and premier human rights campaigner, to be slated as soon as possible.

After hundreds of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, along with PLO terrorists rampaged through kibbutzim located close to the border with Gaza, a campaign of hate, threats and intimidation erupted throughout Canada, with Palestinians and other Arabs living in Canada as citizens organized 'pro-Palestinian' protests in the immediate wake of the savagery committed by Palestinians. Following which such protests became frequent episodes of anti-Israel, anti-Jewish hate-fests.

Incidents of such hate expressed against Canadian Jews more than doubled in Toronto where antisemitism has become the most reported hate crime for years, compared to last year's statistics. Across Canada other cities report as well significant increases since October 7 of anti-Jewish hate-fests. In Ottawa, the office tower where the Israeli embassy is located saw vandals spray-paint anti-Israel graffiti on the building exterior.

Simultaneously a group of anti-Israel protesters once again shut down an intersection south of the embassy, evidently a coordinated effort to create 'economic blockades' against nations considered to be supportive of Israel. Sitting and retired politicians at all levels of government, mayors, school trustees, cultural and ethnic groups and faith leaders were among the 200 individuals who signed the open letter. 

 

Among them MP Kevin Vuong who emphasized that combating antisemitism requires commitment and action, not merely words and platitudes. The call for a summit saw a motion tabled in the Senate by Senator Leo Housakos.

 

Senate of Canada

"We cannot allow antisemitism to become normalized, and we cannot allow the haters to believe they can act with impunity."

"It is totally unacceptable that the Jewish community, whose history dates to the foundation of our country and who have contributed so much to Canada's well-being and success, should feel unsafe in their own communities."

Senator Leo Housakos

To Strike Back : When and Where

"We are looking ahead."

"We are considering our steps, and this launch of so many missiles, cruise missiles and UAVs into the territory of the State of Israel will be met with a response." 

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system is seen intercepting rockets launched from the Gaza Strip | Source: Reuters

 

"Iran is a nation that endorses terrorism, and the world should have curtailed it much earlier."

"[Saudi air defences automatically intercept] any suspicious entity [that enters its airspace, which could refer to attacks from Yemeni Houthis, another of Iran's terror proxies]."

"We confront every suspicious object that enters Saudi airspace. This is a matter of sovereignty."

"Two days before the attack, Iranian officials briefed counterparts from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries on the outlines and timing of their plan for the large-scale strikes on Israel so that those countries could safeguard airspace. Information that was passed along to the U.S. allowing Washington and Israel crucial advance warning."

Anonymous Saudi royal family source

Monday Israel's war cabinet discussed a few potential military responses to the Islamic Republic's Saturday/Sunday attack on Israel's airspace with over 300 drones and missiles, some 99% of which were reportedly shot down by the U.S., Israel, France, the U.K., Jordan and Saudi Arabia before they could enter Israel's airspace. Each of the possible responses under discussion were designed to inflict a meaningful response to the Iranian regime, while carefully avoiding expansion leading to a regional war.

The war cabinet was mindful of the pressure exerted by U.S. President Joe Biden and the diplomatic necessity of selecting an option that would not induce the Biden administration to block its performance. Prime Minister Netanyahu had been informed by President Biden on Saturday not to expect Washington to support a retaliatory attack by Israel. "You got a win. Take the win", said Biden. 

Yoav Gallant, a war cabinet member and Defence Minister, informed his American counterpart the following evening that there was no choice for the Jewish state but to respond to the unprecedented drone and missile strikes on Israel in response to an alleged airstrike by Israel that hit Damascus, killing an elite Quds Force commander. Gallant emphasized to U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin that the reality of ballistic missiles fired at Israel without repercussions was not acceptable.

 

Gilad Erdan, Israel's UN ambassador, showed a video of drones heading toward Israel to the United Nations Security Council on Sunday. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU via Getty Images

 

In the final analysis the war cabinet had no option but to endorse a strike back, remaining divided on the scope and timing of their response. Minister-without-Portfolio Benny Gantz vowed to "exact the price from Iran in the fashion and timing that is right for us". Comprised of Netanyahu, Gallant and Gantz, as well as three observers, the war cabinet meant to reconvene Tuesday.

Following the call with Biden, it was reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu set aside the option of a swift strike on Iranian territory; a decision that resulted in the Iranian attacks having "caused relatively minor damage", which seems highly unlikely, since an aggressive act of war of this dimension could not and would not be set aside as immaterial by any other nation on Earth. 

Saudi Arabia accused Iran of responsibility for the Gaza conflict with the intention of undermining progress in a normalization agreement between Riyadh and Jerusalem. A royal family source revealed that Tehran's promotion of terrorism led Riyadh to play a role in thwarting the drone and missile attack that occurred on Saturday night. The Saudis shared intelligence with the United States and Israel that helped to counter the Iranian attack. 

Intelligence was also shared by the Emiratis who had forged diplomatic ties with Jerusalem as part of the Abraham Accords in 2020. Initially cautious around sharing information, Arab governments feared direct involvement in the conflict that would leave them vulnerable to Iranian reprisal. Despite which Riyadh and Abu Dhabi moved forward following discussions with the U.S.

As well, Amman agreed to permit the U.S. and other countries to fly warplanes through its airspace, intercepting Iranian missiles and drones, while the Jordanians themselves assisted in shooting them down.

Parts of a missile launched from a missile are landed in Marj Al-Hamam area, during Iran's airstrikes against Israel, in Amman, Jordan on April 14, 2024. Anadolu via Getty Images

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East/Hamas

"We are not convinced that Canada used the information that we provided in a way that would put UNRWA in a different light than before. It's as if nothing happened."

"Even if we got the message that Canada believes UNRWA needs to be reformed, our conviction is that UNRWA needs to be reformed immediately and completely."

"As an organization, it's become a bottleneck that's part of the problem, not the solution."

Iddo Moed, Israeli Ambassador to Canada

"For years I've had meetings in western capitals."

"I've been to Ottawa and met with Canadian officials in Israel many times, and I tell them, 'You get to feel very good about  yourself, even very smug for giving money to supposedly the poor Palestinians, but what you're really funding is the continuation and perpetuation of the century-long Palestinian war against the Jewish state."

Einat Wilf, Israeli politician former Knesset member 

United Nations and Red Crescent workers prepare aid for distribution to Palestinians at the UNRWA warehouse in Deir Al-Balah, Gaza Strip on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. (Hassan Eslaiah/The Associated Press)

 

Among the evidence that Israel made available to its allies, including Canada, were (a) biographies of employees of the United Nations who participated in the massacre in southern Israel of that infamous October 7 day of barbaric slaughter. (b) Also provided were satellite photographs of schools in Gaza that had been built over buried terrorist bunkers. (c) Proof that Hamas rocket launchers were installed within mere metres of marked United Nations compounds.

Canada was given access to a wide range of Israeli intelligence, before the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau decided it would continue to fund the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, after initially declaring a 'pause' in funding of the agency, in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 assault.  A wide assortment of other donor nations mostly suspended funding until the conclusion of a UN investigation either cleared or confirmed implication of UNRWA.

Canada is not alone in deciding to resume funding rather than wait for the results of the investigation into UNRWA's involvement in the Hamas savagery in southern Israel that resulted in mass rape, the slaughter of over 1,200 infants, children, women, the elderly and the hostage-taking of an estimated 240 Israelis. Japan, Australia, Finland and Sweden also decided to resume their funding. 

A Palestinian boy holds a Hamas flag as he protests against a UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) funding gap, outside the UNRWA Gaza headquarters in Gaza City. Photo by Khalil Hamra

Canada's government, before its decision to resume funding, was given verifiable intelligence that Hamas views UNRWA as part of its civil rule in that it provides the material civic support and infrastructure to Palestinians in Gaza, leaving Hamas free to focus on its military terrorist programs. That briefing clarified that "Hamas is deeply and systemically embedded in UNRWA. Hamas members serve in all sectors of UNRWA activities, including key positions."

The United Nations has supported Palestinians as refugees for the past 76 years. Essentially the funding supporting the Palestinians serves to facilitate ongoing attacks against Israel, as they have since the Jewish state's re-establishment in 1948. According to the Israeli UNRWA dossier up to 2,135 UNRWA employees are members of Palestinian terror groups with over three-quarters of those employees Hamas operatives. Of that number, 327 serve in Hamas's 'military wing', the Al-Qassam Brigades.

Also included in the dossier were over a dozen biographies of UNRWA employees who had taken part in the October 7 attack; an UNRWA social worker seen on surveillance video removing the body of a man from Kibbutz Beeri; an UNRWA school principal who moonlights in the Al-Qassam Brigades among them. The school principal closed his school just prior to the attacks, notifying fellow Hamas operatives to muster close to the Gaza border. Eighteen UNRWA school principals are identified as Hamas combat operatives.

 

It is well known and documented that Hamas makes use of its civilian population as human shields, places rocket launchers, command posts and other strategic targets among and within schools, mosques and hospitals. At least 32 UNRWA facilities located within 20 metres of Hamas installations in Gaza were revealed by Israeli intelligence. Under the UNRWA-operated Maghazi Prep School B in central Gaza a tunnel was discovered, as well as a bunker underneath the UNRWA-run Zaitoun Prep School, both of whose principals are Hamas operatives.

Throughout the Gaza Strip, maps show arms warehouses, tunnel access points and logistical centres adjacent to UN-run schools, residences and facilities. A satellite image depicted construction of an underground bunker in 2010; an updated image taken in 2023 showed an UNRWA school built over the bunker. Hamas rocket launchers near Rafah were placed metres from a mosque and schools as well as throughout UN refugee camps nearby. 

"We have built the tunnels because we have no other way of protecting ourselves from being targeted and killed", explained Mousa Abu Marzouk, deputy chair of the Hamas Political Bureau in an interview with Russia Today, emphasizing that the Gaza tunnels were designed not to benefit Palestinian civilians from return Israeli fire when rockets are launched into Israel, but to protect Hamas 'fighters' and their infrastructure from the Israeli counterattacks, where Hamas is happy to sacrifice their citizens as 'martyrs'.

Activists and their children hold a giant Palestinian flag during a protest demanding that countries resume funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians Refugees (UNRWA) near the European Union headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (Bilal Hussein/Associated Press)

"While we gathered intelligence on Hamas, more and more links to UNRWA came up."

"The problem is that Hamas infiltrated into the ranks of UNRWA in a systematic manner, in a way that Hamas perceived UNRWA as a strategic asset."

"If UNRWA will not recognize that there is a problem, it will be impossible to fix it. Because the infiltration is so wide, we believe it is beyond repair, and we don't want to see the continuation of the activity of UNRWA in the Gaza Strip."

"Not all of the humanitarian aid reached the civilians, Hamas was trying to use this aid for its own purposes [intercepting and seizing humanitarian aid entering Gaza from international donors]."

Senior Israeli diplomatic source

Threatening Canadian Jews

"Mr. Trudeau, we accuse you and your government, through your actions and inactions, of having contributed to the antisemitism we see running rampant in Canada today. You have permitted it to fester and rage like a fire burning out of control. Your indifference and relative silence in response to antisemitism contribute to the marginalization and isolation of Jews in Canada and their erasure for the public square."

"We accuse you and your government of abandoning Canadian Jews in our time of great peril. Your failure to speak out against the attacks on Jews, the threats to Jewish schools, the targeting and vandalism of businesses and the desecration of Jewish cemeteries and places of worship is incomprehensible."

"Your moral failings have contributed to what we regard as the explosion of Jew hatred in Canada."

"Your government's inaction and appeasement toward Hamas supporters achieves nothing but embarrassment and shame for Canada on the world stage."

"We have passed an awful milestone in our long  history by allowing members of Parliament to shamefully accommodate radicals and stand with terrorists."

"Canada's honourable and longstanding record of support for the cause of freedom, justice and against all forms of hatred and antisemitism has been ineradicably stained by the actions of your government."

J'Accuse...! An Open Letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Palestinian supporters hold a rally in downtown Toronto on Oct. 9, 2023. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

 

Hundreds of disruptive, hate-filled protests have roiled Canadian cities in the past five months in the wake of the mass murder of Israeli civilians who were raped, mutilated, burned to death when Palestinian terrorists led by Hamas and joined by the PLFP and PIJ along with ordinary Palestinian civilians flooded across the border from Gaza to Israel to raid border villages and jubilantly record their sadistic savagery in killing children, babies, women and the elderly, celebrating the success of their 'victory' over the 'enemy'.

The protests were not to express outrage that such barbarity could occur against defenceless civilians by a neighbouring population, but to champion the very terrorist hordes that had perpetrated the shocking mutilation, rape, and slaughter of Jews. Crowds of pro-Hamas celebrants who shouted 'Intefada!', 'From the river to the sea!' and 'Final Solution'. All slogans with a readily identifiable meaning representing a hate crime against an identifiable group.

Jews represent a small minority ethnic/religious/cultural group within Canada, roughly 400,000 in number; about 1% of the population. The Jewish presence in Canada dates back before Confederation. From much later years forward Canada has amassed through immigration, refugee and migrant entries a much larger proportion of Muslims from the Middle East and North Africa to the point where Toronto, Canada's largest city, is ten percent Muslim. There are close to two million Muslims living in Canada, representing 5% of the population.

"On that Saturday [March 30], police arrested a man for allegedly driving a truck with people riding in the bed of the vehicle. They said the man was charged with stunt driving."

"While officers were seizing the truck, police say demonstrators became "aggressive and assaultive" toward the officers. Several arrests followed, and two women were charged with assaulting a peace officer with a weapon. One woman allegedly used a flagpole as a spear, while the other is accused of throwing horse manure at officers."

CBC report

Organizers of a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Toronto on March 30 where seven people were arrested say officers used excessive force against protesters, an allegation firmly rejected by police. Still from video, CBC

Arabs and Palestinians among them have organized events and rallies that demonize Israel and persecute Canadian Jews. They represent a formidable voting bloc, and there are now, under the prime ministership of Justin Trudeau, a large number of Members of Parliament of Muslim heritage, a good number of whom are in the Liberal caucus, with some appointed to influential Cabinet posts. The demographics and voting patterns constrain meaningful action against illegal, threatening, increasingly violent pro-Hamas protests and actions threatening Jews.

The great numbers of Muslims guarantee that many Canadian cities now have a substantial number of Jew-hostile groups igniting latent antisemitism from among the general population of those inclined to racist fear-mongering. Everywhere and anywhere now, Jews realize that some of their neighbours are insensitive to their vulnerabilities as a minority in a growing environment of social hostility. Much less that in their neighbourhoods, living on the same streets are those who view Jews as anathema.

Six Toronto city councillors last week gave support to pro-Hamas rallies, including the annual Al Quds Day events initiated by the Islamic Republic of Iran which publicly vocalize Iran's intention of destroying Israel. These councillors produced a statement: "Protecting the Right to Protest in Our City: freedom of assembly is a protected right in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In these difficult times of heightened tension in the world and Toronto these rights must be protected as part of our democratic society."

 

The federal government under Justin Trudeau, given direct and compromising evidence that UNRWA employed hundreds of Palestinian Gazans in its operations, some of whom are also members of groups like Hamas who are listed on Canada's terror list and that among them were individuals who took direct action during the murderous terrorist raid of October 7, taking part in the butchery, the rapes, the destruction and the abduction of hundreds of children, women and elderly as hostages taken to Gaza, decided to continue funding UNRWA.

For this current government of Canada, it has become glaringly clear that terrorizing Jews in Israel is of little concern, and what's more to the point, is that threatening and violating the civil rights of Canadian Jews is also of no concern to Justin Trudeau's government. This government flouts its own anti-terrorism laws and sanctions, among them that Canadians are forbidden to participate, facilitate, instruct or harbour terrorists.

People take part in a pro-Palestinian rally in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

The High Price of Terrorism

"The criminal enemy is driven by the spirit of revenge and murder and does not value any standards of laws."

"The enemy believes that by targeting the families of the leaders, it will push them to give up the demands of our people."

"Anyone who believes that targeting my sons will push Hamas to change its position is delusional."

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh 

An Israeli raid claimed the lives of three sons and three grandchildren of Hamas' political bureau leader, Ismail Haniyeh. (Photo: video grab)

 

Delusional, as in the incapacity to recognize reality, leading one to believe irrationally that one's criminal activity directed against a perceived enemy is totally within reason and represents an honourable action. That slaughtering innocent people represents a qualified success in persuading that enemy that they will never succeed in arguing it is better for all involved to live in peace by demonstrating that instead of peace enabling two different cultures, religions, ethnicities to abide one another's presence without resorting to conflict, it is far more effective to launch deadly attacks to deliver the message of absolute rejection.

Delusion is the attitude that surfaces of disbelief and fury leading to the sanctimonious censure of the 'enemy' that strikes back in a message that declares no one is untouchable who is involved in the murder of our citizens, particularly if they are themselves 'sensitive' subjects of familial concern, in the wake of a remorseless barbarism of savagery unleashed on helpless civilian children, women and the elderly. One that remains unresolved with the condition of hostages still held as bargaining chips unknown, although some are held to have been murdered while in captivity.

 

People gathered for vigils in Jerusalem and around the world to remember those killed or taken hostage on Oct. 7. CBC still from video

Three sons of Hamas leader Haniyeh, themselves part of the Hamas terrorist operation, given their father's leading role in the deaths of thousands of Israelis over the years were assassinated as just dues of the October 7 mass murder of Israelis, eliciting condemnation from Haniyeh at the 'criminal' actions of a nation's military tasked to protect and perserve the lives of their own population. Whereas Haniyeh is fond and proud of declaring at every opportunity how proud he is that Palestinians willingly offer their lives as 'martyrs' for the cause of destroying Israel.

 

What is unfortunate is that Palestinian terrorists never quite believe they will one day have their lives extinguished in attacks countering their own. Which leads to the death of innocents, both Israeli and Palestinian. Three of Haniyeh's grandchildren were killed in the Israeli strike that dispatched their fathers, Hazem, Ameer and Mohammed Haniyeh, when the vehicle they were all travelling in was struck by a drone within the Gaza Strip's al-Shati camp. Children anywhere deserve to live and to flourish and to become decent human beings.

"From a military point of view, Hamas is defeated. Its fighters are eliminated or in hiding [and its capabilities [crippled]."

"Fighting against Hamas will take time. Boys who are now in middle school will still fight in the 
Gaza Strip."

"Wherever there are terrorist targets, the Israel Defense Forces will be there."

Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz

Ismail Haniyeh said the car containing members of his family was targeted as they were visiting the Shati refugee camp for Eid. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

The Absent Authority of the Prime Minister

"The rise of antisemitism poses a significant threat to the safety, security, and well-being of Jewish communities within our town and across the country."

"It is imperative for municipal governments to express their concerns and stand in solidarity with communities facing discrimination and persecution."

"[Monday's resolution cites the federal government's decision to distance itself] from the longstanding policy of support for Israel [thus contributing to a] major spike in antisemitism across Canada."

Hampstead, Quebec, non-confidence resolution

"Actions speak louder than words. Justin Trudeau excels in rhetoric, but falls short in action. The Canadian government must promptly take concrete steps to shield our communities from further harm."

"Justin Trudeau has ... failed Jews across Canada and we are proud that we can take such a strong position on this."

"It is a very strong message to Justin Trudeau and the Liberal party that we do not support you and we are not confident in your ability to tackle antisemitism."

"Due to the lack of government support at all levels, every Jewish institution in the country has had to fortify its security measures."

"Our community has resorted to securing five separate legal injunctions against pro-Hamas protesters who targeted synagogues -- a troubling testament to the state of affairs in Canada."

"It's disheartening when private citizens must resort to legal recourse because those in power have failed in their duty."

Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi

Though Mayor Jeremy Levi described it as symbolic, Hampstead's resolution says it is imperative for municipal governments to "express their concerns and stand in solidarity with communities facing discrimination and persecution." Photo via City of Montreal

The town council of the Montreal suburb of Hampstead has expressed a no confidence position through a unanimous resolution, in the Liberal government of prime minister Justin Trudeau, for  his and its failure to take substantive action upholding Canada's traditional support of Israel in the United Nations, as a collegial Liberal-Democratic state sitting alone in a Middle East sea of Sheikhdoms, Kingdoms and Petroleum Dictators hostile to the Jewish state's existence. That it has also failed spectacularly to offer security and safety to Canada's long-standing Jewish community is beyond comprehension.

For the town council, in a suburb that is comprised of a majority Jewish residency, the opportunity arose for an assemblage of Jews in a political position to assert itself in support of Canadian Jews in the midst of a raging torrent of rising antisemitism in the wake of Israel's military entering Gaza for the express purpose of demolishing the terrorist group Hamas, which governs the Palestinian enclave. A terrorist group, furthermore, that is listed on Canada's own proscribed terrorist list. Despite which pro-Hamas demonstrations led by Palestinian-, Arab- and Muslim-Canadians denigrating Jews and accusing Israel of 'genocide', elicit no meaningful response from Justin Trudeau.

At the town council meeting where the resolution passed unanimously, its mayor addressed those present citing examples of antisemitism, among them a Nazi-era-inspired caricature of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, portraying him as a vampire. And while Trudeau correctly identified the cartoon as 'antisemitic', as did a number of other Members of Parliament, and the newspaper, La Presse, withdrew the cartoon and apologized, it represents a typical legacy press slander against Israel in the wake of the October 7 desecration of Jewish lives mounted by Hamas in Israel.

Hampstead council also passed a legal initiative in the creation of a new bylaw that prohibits removal of hostage posters, backing the bylaw with a $1,000 fine, pointing the way that such small gestures can be effective and emulated for that purpose by other politicians as incremental measures to combat antisemitism. To above all, send a message that Canadian Jews do not stand alone in the vast country they love where they were born and have every right to the expectation of equal treatment and respect from their countrymen, including recent immigrants from Middle East countries where Muslim-majority populations' cultural traditions victimize Jews.

 

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks at a conference on antisemitism, in Ottawa on Oct. 17, 2023. Last week, during a speech at a synagogue in Côte Saint-Luc, Que., he provided a comprehensive glimpse into his views on Israel, conflict in the Middle East and antisemitism. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

 

Located in the near geographic vicinity to Hampstead is the Montreal Holocaust Museum, where pro-Palestinian activists protested in early Mach, a demonstration organized by the Concordia University student chapter of Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights which spoke of the October 7 massacre of Jews in southern Israel as "an unfaltering desire for liberation"; that they "hold the Israeli regime fully responsible for the escalating violence".

At that time, Mayor Levi wrote: "To the Pro-Hamas demonstrators who gathered outside a Montreal Jewish Community building, spreading anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiments: your disgrace is inappropriate and misplaced". Mayor Levi spoke once more of his support for Conservative Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre, underscoring his confidence in his and his party's "ability to act decisively" in the best interests of returning Canada to its traditional support of Israel, and full acceptance of its responsibility toward Canada's Jewish population.

Pro-Palestine rally in Montreal. Photo by Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press