'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

The pro-Palestinian encampment on McGill's lower field has grown slightly in size as seen on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

"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.

 

Ottawa police’s hate crime unit is investigating allegations of hate speech at a pro-Palestinian rally on Parliament Hill over the weekend, where some participants were heard chanting in support of the deadly Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack in Israel.

 

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)

Justin Trudeau's Canada

"He uses his professorship as a way to influence by promoting hate speech and disinformation about Israel. He calls Israel an 'apartheid state committing genocide'."

"I strongly urge you to stop this professor before his words turn into a dreadful act that is completely in your hands to stop today."

Unnamed complainant fearful of personal repercussions

 

"Hatred is predicated on destruction. Hatred against identifiable groups therefore thrives on insensitivity, bigotry and destruction of both the target group and the values of our society."

"Hatred in this sense is the most extreme emotion that belies reason, an emotion that if exercised against members of an identifiable group, implies that those individuals are to be despised, scorned, denied respect and subject to ill-treatment on the basis of a group affiliation." 

Canada's Chief Justice Brian Dickson's ruling in R v Keegstra, 1990

Pro-Palestine protesters march through the streets of Windsor, Ont. Photo by TAYLOR CAMPBELL/WINDSOR STAR

Canadians have seen no end of Palestinian-Canadian and 'pro-Palestinian' supporters coming out in full force since October 7, both celebrating the terrorist group Hamas's butchery of Israelis, rapine and abductions of children and the elderly, and calling for the world community to stop Israel's military response in Gaza. It is well enough known that it was not only Hamas operatives that raided Israeli border towns and villages wreaking sadistic savagery on a surprised and unprepared citizenry, but that Palestinian civilians, some of whom had been engaged as temporary farm workers who also took part in the carnage.

For months the demonstrations have continued, blocking streets, appearing before foreign embassies, universities, government offices, government representative regional offices, and anywhere else the crowds shouting 'gas the Jews' and 'intefada' among other violent threats feel they are entitled to intrude upon. School board meetings have not been immune to these mobs, and nor have shopping malls and Christmas markets. Yet no arm of government has made a move to stop these actions. And when, in police presence, masked men threaten people, there has been no response.

Since the most authoritative response must always emanate from the federal government itself, giving clearance to other levels of government and ultimately police, the complete lack of response from the Liberal government of prime minister Justin Trudeau has set the stage for the protests and their violent messaging to continue. Antisemitism has become a viral menace within Canadian society. Unchecked it will lead to violence in excess of the firebombing of a synagogue and Jewish community centre and parochial school.

 

 

There are some instances where those with the moral courage to deny the slanders thrown about that threaten Jews, are left to their own devices when they are penalized. As in the instance of a lecturer in marketing at University of Guelph-Humber. An investigation was launched for a social media post by Paul Finlayson who responded to a Palestinian supporter he labelled a "pro-Nazi zealot. You stand with Palestine means you stand with Hitler. You don't want peace, you want dead Jews". He finds himself suspended from his position with the university.

And then there is the individual who wrote to the administration of Sheridan College in Brampton, Ontario to report online posts produced by Dr. Wael Ramadan, professor of project management at the Pilon School of Business at Sheridan College. The complainant wrote that Ramadan posted "hateful rhetoric about Israel", recognized as antisemitic, making the individual feel 'unsafe'. At Canadian universities and colleges the new rule is anything that makes anyone associated with academia feel 'unsafe' cannot be countenanced. An exception is made for Jews feeling 'unsafe'.

Professor Ramadan is an ardent supporter of the Palestinian 'cause', a harsh critic of Israel, which he names an "apartheid state" that commits genocide, urging a boycott of companies that conduct business with Israel. He helped to publicize a worldwide strike in support of Gaza, following the October 7 atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel. "The dehumanization of Palestinians using fake news and atrocity propaganda is weaponized by apartheid Israel and the U.S. government to incite emotion against Palestinians", he writes.

 

 

So, evidently the carnage wrought by Hamas on Israel during the October 7 atrocities are a mere figment of an evil mind's imagination, attributing such inhumane acts to Palestinians. These Palestinian supporters claim there is no evidence, that these are events entirely contrived or carried out by Israel in an effort to paint Palestinians as monsters when clearly they are freedom fighters. That the 'freedom fighters' took pride in their atrocities to the extent that they recorded them and posted the videos on social media platforms is evidently negligibly immaterial.