'Violent Rhetoric From Extremist Actors'
"While the long-term impacts of the current crisis cannot be easily predicted, it is clear that this conflict has raised tensions within our society.""Violent rhetoric from extremist actors has increased since the attack by Hamas and, as the conflict continues to unfold, it is possible that these events could impact certain individuals' intent to mobilize to violence.""Activists are receiving backlash, being labelled as antisemitic, and facing various consequences for shouting chants such as, 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' as well as calling for 'intifada'.""As an overwhelming majority of Jews identify as Zionists and believe in the need for a Jewish state ... calls for attacks against Zionists should be seen as calls for attacks against Jews."Eric Balsam, spokesman, Canadian Security Intelligence Service"The 2023 statistics make it abundantly clear when there is unrest in Israel, Jewish Canadians suffer unduly.""The levels of antisemitism were already on the rise prior to the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict."Richard Robertson, director of research and advocacy, B'nai Brith Canada
"Violent
rhetoric" from "extremist actors" have been identified by the Canadian
Security Intelligence Service as a potential lead-up to societal
violence, particularly targeting Jewish Canadians. Such violence has
already occurred, with criminal acts of arson at synagogues, Jewish
parochial schools and Jewish community centres, along with vandalism
perpetrated on Jewish-owned businesses. Moreover, the 'pro-Palestinian'
protest groups have interfered with Jews attending synagogues, shouting
invectives at Canadian Jews, creating an environment of hostility
leading to fear and isolation.
CSIS
has issued a statement at a time when newly released documents point
out discussions among the spy agency, federal Public Safety Department
and Muslim and Jewish leaders have taken place relating to an increase
in hate crimes in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict following the
October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on southern Israel, in which
Hamas operatives flooded towns and villages for the singular purpose of
mayhem and murder, which they themselves documented on video of the
mutilation, rape and murder of Israeli girls and women, along with the
slaughter of 1,200 mostly civilian Israelis.
CSIS
monitors and identifies threats within and to Canada and Canadian
society for the purpose of alerting government. It seems clear from the
months following those exchanges by CSIS with the groups involved, that
government has failed to take heed of the toxic environment emanating
from Muslim-Canadians in their expressive targeting of Canadian-Jews,
while at the same time heroizing Hamas and their terrorist agenda.
One released document recounts that CSIS representatives "assured all participants that they will continue to monitor threats and to look for evidence of attacks being planned",
while remaining in touch with leaders from both Muslim and Jewish
communities to be briefed on their concerns. CSIS Director David
Vigneault had meetings personally with federal envoys appointed to
'combat antisemitism and Islamophobia'. Which is strange, given how
matters have unfolded over the past seven months where Jews are under
siege by Muslims in Canada.
In
the course of these meetings, federal officials heard out concerns
expressed by Muslim and Arab leaders on public rhetoric surrounding the
conflict; what one attendee noted, remarking on 'silence' from the
federal government on how the Middle East situation would affect the
safety of Palestinians and other Muslims living in Canada. Which amounts
to typical Palestinian portrayals of themselves as perpetual victims,
while in reality they are responsible for victimizing Jews by organizing
these repeated protests that lionize Hamas and denigrate Israel.
The
'intifada' spoken of so religiously in these protests have association
with periods of conflict intensity in the Israel-Palestine standoff,
which precipitated attacks by Palestinian terrorist groups and
individuals on public venues within Israel all of which which resulted
in predictable murderous bloodshed. Leaders in the Jewish community
point to examples of protesters that glorify the October 7 Hamas attack
against southern Israeli towns and villages at demonstrations in cities
across Canada.
Federal officials frequently were informed by Jewish leaders of the need for police to take effective action to put a halt to "the hateful rhetoric expressed at rallies",
specifically pointing out the pejorative use of the word "Zionist". The
RCMP, according to the documents was providing a "tool kit" explaining
the historical background of the conflict to assist officers to "identify signs of overt and covert hate that may be seen at protests". Local police have been tasked with paying attention to Jewish-owned business, schools, synagogues and community centres.
As well, from the documents it was indicated that Public Safety Canada would be communicating with universities "to discuss the dampening of rising tensions and antisemitism on campuses". Information was being relayed to schools "on the current threat environment"
linked to anti-Israel protesters joined by outside organizers placing
encampments at McGill University in Montreal, University of Ottawa,
University of British Columbia and University of Toronto, where school
administrators claim hate would not be tolerated, warning students of
punishment, running afoul of university policy.
Words, thus far, lacking action.
The protest began at U of T last week. (Paul Smith/CBC) |
Labels: Arab/Muslim Canadians, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Extremist Actors, Federal Government Inaction, Hamas Terrorism, Jewish-Canadians, Pro-Hamas Rallies in Canad, Violent Rhetoric
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