"[Canada is now] one of the centres of antisemitism globally. [There was a noticeable] rising trend in antisemitism [following the October 7 terror attacks on Israel, causing a] dramatic spike."

"It created a lot of concern in Israel. It drew the attention of the highest political levels in spite of the fact that we are, at the same time, busy with the war."

"We really came to realize that Canada has become one of the centres of antisemitism globally that we need to monitor much more closely." 

"The concern for security is something that's completely unprecedented. I never thought that would be an issue that we'll be dealing with at such a level in Canada. Unfortunately, it is, so what I'm doing about it is to draw the attention of all relevant governments: federal, provincial, municipal." 

Israeli Ambassador Iddo Moed, Ottawa Legation 

 

"What our message needs to be to our leaders is that if nothing is done, then you're sending a message: 'They can go ahead and go to the next level'."

"It's the literal broken windows theory."

Rabbi Daniel Korobkin, Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto synagogue 

Israel’s Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed looks at bullet holes in windows at the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto synagogue in Vaughan, which was recently shot at, Thursday March 12, 2026. Photo by Peter J. Thompson/National Post

 

Three synagogues were shot at in Canada in less than the space of a week. Jewish groups have been warning for years that there would be increasingly violent action taken against Jewish institutions, given the constant deliberately provocative marches by pro-Palestinian, pro-Hamas groups in Canada who have continued to harass and threaten Canadian Jews, while proclaiming the global Intifada that would destroy Israel. The marchers not only had the impact of victimizing Canadian Jews, but they also took it upon themselves to illegally block roadways and intersections, amidst displays of mass street prayers.

 

During the several years that Canada's Islamist cohorts organized marches, violations of public spaces, took over university campuses and threatened and harassed Jewish students and faculty, there were also shootings at Jewish day schools, synagogues, community centres, and private Jewish-owned businesses. Places of business were vandalized, fire-bombed and boycotted by vociferous antisemites. And while police were present at these daytime gatherings to maintain public order,  nothing was ever done to deter ongoing events of the same nature.

 

Jewish institutions have had to invest in security measures including fencing, metal detectors and private security guards along with other property reinforcements against intrusions. Governments at every level, from municipal to provincial to federal have essentially spouted the same tired expressions of 'this isn't Canada', and 'this will not be tolerated' and authorities express indignation over the rise of virulent antisemitism, while also decrying 'Islamophobia'. Cheap words and absent actions.

 

Members of the Jewish community, GTA police services and politicians gathered outside a North York synagogue to stand up against antisemitism after three synagogues were shot at over the span of a week. (Spencer Gallichan-Lowe/CBC)

 

Ambassador Moed appeared at one of the synagogues north of Toronto that had been shot at; the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto (BAYT) synagogue. The synagogue's front doors suffered ten shots shattering its windows. There were no injuries suffered at any of the three targeted synagogues. The ambassador spoke of the attack's intention to signal intimidation of synagogue members, and by extension, the population of Jews in Toronto, knowing they are targeted and the potential that this indicates, of serious physical harm, apart from the aggravated mental stress.

 

In an interview, Ambassador Moed who was originally from the Netherlands and acted there as the Israeli ambassador as well, and as such was well familiar with the Netherlands' well earned reputation for antisemitism, explained that he was shaken by his experience in Canada. The threats that Canadian Jews face, he realized during his tenure in the country, he assesses as "incomparable to anything in the past".

 

When he was assigned to Israel's diplomatic mission in Canada he anticipated ambassadorial business as usual; business development, community relations, expanding trade and strengthening bilateral ties. Nothing prepared him for the reality of witnessing harassment of Canadian Jews and Israelis in the country. Israel's government has become all too aware of Canada's growing ill reputation as a country steeped in antisemitism; partially a result of its immigration/refugee/migrant-intake laxity.  

 

Beth Avraham Yosef of Toronto synagogue in Vaughan was one of two synagogues that were shot late Friday night. (CBC)

"Part of my visit here is to share with [Canadian political leaders] our grave concern, to share with them our perspective, that we see a clear escalating trend. We see that all the red lights are blinking. We see that all the warning signs are there. We are not sure that we've seen the end of this."

"This is sort of a global trend, and its expressions in Canada are one of the worst. Today we are speaking about the country [Canada] where most shooting incidents took place against Jewish institutions in the world."

"We are talking about [the Jewish] community which is the fourth largest diaspora that feels terrorized."

"It feels abandoned."

Israeli Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed