‘They saw there were no consequences for their illegal behaviour, they became emboldened, and they figured that they can now — with impunity — express their core desires’
Article content
While antisemitic slogans shouted during a weekend anti-Israel protest triggered a rare, online-only rebuke from the prime minister, Canadian Jewish groups blame the deafening silence from Canada’s political leaders for emboldening protestors, resulting in a conspicuous increase in hateful rhetoric.
On Saturday, swarms of masked anti-Israel protestors marched through downtown Ottawa, waving banners, flags and chanting in front of Parliament Hill.
Advertisement 2
Article content
Article content
“Our resistance and attacks are proof that we are almost free,” shouted a protestor in widely-shared video by videographer Chris Dacey.
“October 7th is proof that we’re almost free. Long live October 7th. Long life the intifada. Long live every form of resistance.”
Among those who responded to the protesters was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who weighed on the following evening on X.
“There is a difference between peaceful protest and hateful intimidation,” read the statement posted Sunday at 7:17 p.m.
“It is unconscionable to glorify the antisemitic violence and murder perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th. This rhetoric has no place in Canada.”
First Reading
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
Saturday certainly wasn’t the first time anti-Israel protestors gleefully invoked the October 7 attacks, where scores of Hamas terrorists unleashed a campaign of murder, sexual assault and kidnappings that left over 1,000 Israelis dead and 133 more taken hostage.
Other leaders, including Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, as well as the leaders of the Ontario Liberals and both the Ontario and Federal NDP, issued no statements or condemnations of the protests.
Shimon Koffler Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) told the National Post that Canada needs strong leadership to show that such values aren’t welcome in common society.
“We’re not looking at small gatherings where whispers of ‘long live the intifada’ are being uttered,” he said.
“These are large crowds gleefully cheering what Hamas did, and egging on their leaders who proudly yell into loudspeakers about what it is that they want.”
B’nai Brith Canada’s Richard Robertson said months of virtual silence from political leaders — particularly the PM — is directly responsible for the increase in rhetoric.
Advertisement 4
Article content
“It’s incumbent upon leaders across the entire country to be proactively engaged in measures that will reduce the level of incitement,” he said.
“To see our Canadian government passively enabling such is deeply concerning, not just for the Jewish community, but also for the national security of the country.”
Advertisement 5
Article content
Despite accusations of police tolerance of the protests — particularly in Toronto where police were roundly criticized for delivering coffee to protestors occupying a bridge in the heart of Toronto’s Jewish neighbourhood — some arrests are being made.
Allegedly shouting antisemitic slurs during a Toronto event commemorating October 7 netted 45-year-old Razaali Awan Bahadur charges of publicly inciting hatred.
On Monday, Ottawa police confirmed an investigation is underway in connection with Saturday’s protests.
Politicians weren’t always so hesitant to speak up, particularly in the hours after October 7 where activists in Canada took to the streets to celebrate.
“There was uniform condemnation from the political sector, it was clear it was unequivocal, and it was explicit,” Fogel said.
“And then, all of a sudden, it became muted.”
Advertisement 6
Article content
Fogel suspects constant harassment of Liberal MPs by anti-Israel protestors — including the high-profile cancellation of a Toronto reception for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — may have done its job.
“Their tactics of seeking to intimidate people had good effect,” he said.
“They saw there were no consequences for their illegal behaviour, they became emboldened, and they figured that they can now — with impunity — express their core desires, and we saw that over the weekend.”
Robertson said that while Canadian Jews are both strong-willed and resilient, there’s a palpable sense of abandonment and ostracisation.
“And that’s going to take a long time to heal,” he said.
Recommended from Editorial
Independent MP Kevin Vuong, among the most vocal MPs on Canada’s growing antisemitisim problem, said staying silent is a choice.
“By choosing to do nothing about the hate we’ve been seeing on the streets of our cities, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has provided those who have been calling for genocide and promoting hatred and violence with implicit approval of their actions,” he said.
Advertisement 7
Article content
The National Post reached out to the PMO, asking how important it was for the prime minister to speak out against hate, what it was about Saturday’s protests that prompted a statement, and why he hadn’t spoken out about prior protests where similar hateful language was used.
“The PM has spoken many times on this, specifically to call out hate speech,” said PMO spokesperson Mohammad Hussain, adding there was nothing left to add on the matter.
Meanwhile, Fogel said the growing tide of hate and violence won’t stop with just Israel.
“The Jews may be the canary in the coal mine, but what starts with the Jews, never ends with the Jews,” He said.
“Canadians really need to take that to heart.”
National Post
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here.
Article content
