"I heard them while I was inside speaking ... Halfway through the talk, security interrupted and said we had to leave 'now' ... We were told to exit through another door on the other side of the building."
"This is the welcome I received at the University of Calgary; an Islamist mob chanting 'Allahu akbar!'"
"Canada, you're in big trouble."
"These are not political protests. These are jihadi war cries. Don't let this hateful extremism define Canada."
"What you see is the logical conclusion of a campaign, since October 7, that seeks to paint Israel as evil ... They [student demonstrators aligned with Palestinian 'victim' groups] don't see Israel as a democratic country [opposing terrorist groups]."
Eylon Levy, former spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
The head of an organization of citizens "speaking up for Israel and the Jewish People", Eylon Levy expresses his reluctant opinion based on his experience while visiting Canada -- and finding himself embattled by vociferous crowds of anti-Israel, antisemitic crowds of 'pro-Palestinians' who don't believe the October 7 atrocities in southern Israel happened, along with those who know it happened and feel jubilant over the savagery, equating it with a victory for 'resistance' over the 'oppressors' and 'occupiers' of Palestinian land by the State of Israel -- that Canada is in danger of defining itself by its lax attention to the hateful extremism that boils within its borders.
"Canada has a domestic extremism problem" he wrote in a post on his X account. He is referencing anti-Israel protests taking place in Canada, and in particular the mobs that haunted two of his recent cross-Canada speaking engagements in Calgary and Montreal. In each of those venues protesters wore Arabic Kaffiyehs while chanting "Allahu akbar". An expression that sends a chill down the spines of those who recognize its message; a threat, "a jihadi war cry".
As for the mob mentality and the constant displays of Muslim rage against Israel, the fulminating hatred spewed by Arabs, Muslims and Palestinians: "It's depressing. This has become routine." He has written about his experiences in Canada on his lecture circuit, and that experience by now is little surprise to anyone who follows the events that have been unfolding in the country for over a year. Unrestrained hate on a rampage, with governments from top down, doing nothing to restrain it, to defend the major victims; Canadian Jews.
He describes one student who entered the lecture hall for the purpose of challenging him. "When she started denying the October 7 atrocity, she was asked to leave ... the October 7 attack energized the anti-Israel movement and sparked celebrations of it as a glorious act of resistance", he remarked. "I was speaking at a synagogue. Protesters violated a court order to stay 50 metres from it. They were wearing masks and the keffiyeh. These symbols are scary for Jewish people."
Protesters at University of CalgaryPhoto by Daman Singh
Chants of support for the Arab 'intifada rang out. It is a loaded word he interprets as incitement of terrorism against Jews. "We had to leave through a side entrance (escorted by private security hired for the event)." Canadian Jews cannot now host an event that revolves around the dilemma of existentialism of the symbol of Jewish existence and endurance in the face of mass hostility by enemies and indifference of its supposed friends; other democratic nations, without the presence of security to ward off violence. Appearances he also made for speaking engagements in Toronto and Vancouver 'passed without incident'.
The principal focus for Canada's foreign policy according to Levy should be "standing up for Israel as it faces enemy armies on its borders". Without voicing strong support for Israel "it sends a signal of separation from Israel to (Canada's) allies". And Canada is increasingly viewed within the international community as a hot-house and breeding ground for extremist fundamentalism in Islam, where those who subscribe to the efficacy of terrorism are permitted to flout the law and abide by no societal mores.
Canada as a principal donor to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine, with the most recent donation in May amounting to $65 million, flies in the face of proof that the agency has among its employees over 450 individuals who belong to terrorist groups. Evidence was provided that some UNRWA employees were directly involved in the atrocities of October 7, 2023. Many more celebrated openly, sending one another congratulatory messages on social media.
UNRWA, reminds Levy, operated schools in Gaza where Palestinian children attended "terrorist-run facilities. That agency exists to push peace away. Canada ending its support for UNRWA would definitely be a very positive step." The previous, Conservative-led government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper did just that. And Justin Trudeau's Liberal government lost no time in restoring its financial support of the UN agency.
Students take part in a rally in support of Palestine at the University of Calgary on Oct. 7, 2024. Photo by Brent Calver/Postmedia
"Definitely, some people on the pro-Palestinian side think they are supporting the underdog. It's part of the left-wing belief that they are fighting against oppression. They think they're fighting for the little guy. But the protesters chanting 'Allahu akar' know exactly what they're doing."
"They see the small Jewish state as an affront to Arabs in the Middle East. They think they should rule the region."
"Lots of Israelis feel isolated and betrayed. We thought the international community would stand by Israel's side."
"It's important the war doesn't end with the terrorists thinking they [prevailed]."
"This was the friendly Canadian welcome I received at the University of Calgary."
"Canada,
you're in big trouble. These are not political protests. These are
jihadi war cries. Don't let this hateful extremism define Canada."
"I was told Canadians are polite and friendly. Instead, I was welcomed
to the University of Calgary by an Islamist mob chanting ‘Allahu
Akbar!’."
"Thank you @standwithuscanada for bringing
me to speak with students and to campus security for keeping all of us
safe."
"This is actually the first time that I’ve had an experience like this. Very
quickly, the large protest that had organized outside on the lawn
must’ve realized where we were and descended on the door of the lecture
hall, crying ‘Allahu Akbar!’ And other cries accusing me of (committing) genocide."
"One can only try to engage so much with the people who have made their
minds up and are clearly extremely hostile. But I really
believe there is a large majority out there who do not want to see this
kind of Jihadi extremism defining what campus life is like."
Eylon Levy, Israeli journalist, former government spokesperson
"This event was organized in response to interest from University of
Calgary students seeking to engage with a knowledgeable figure on Middle
Eastern issues. As a former Israeli government spokesperson and
experienced journalist, Mr. Levy provided an informed perspective on the
regional dynamics affecting Israel and its neighbours."
"Calgary Security reported that protesters were moving toward the back
of the building, which could have blocked access to the room from both
sides, effectively barricading Mr. Levy and the over 15 University of
Calgary students who attended."
"StandWithUs Canada supports the right to peaceful protest. However,
the behaviour of groups attempting to disrupt the event went beyond
peaceful expression, escalating into harassment, intimidation, and
obstruction that compromised the safety and rights of attendees."
"No exceptions should be made for groups whose actions promote
violence or intimidation, as these undermine the fundamental rights of
all students to exist in safety and with dignity."
StandWithUs Canada
"This protest was promptedbecause of a
man by the name of Eylon Levy. We believe that
the university should not allow an individual like that to be on
campus. Although, we fully believe in free speech — all we say is that
somebody who has promoted genocide constantly shouldn’t feel welcome on
campus."
"We can notice that the University of Calgary population as a whole
believes that we don’t welcome individuals that have showcased genocidal
intentions against Palestinian people in the past. That’s been a
primary motivation and we can see that many students are in favour."
Muslim Students' Association
"Freedom of expression and lawful assembly are permitted at the
university and a booking is not an indication of support or non-support
for an activity."
"The University of Calgary is committed to the principles of academic
freedom and promoting the free exchange of ideas on campus."
"Campus
Security works with groups who intend to hold events at the University
of Calgary to ensure they follow university safety guidelines and have
adequate security present."
University of Calgary statement
Former Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy speaks to media in Tel Aviv on Nov. 28, 2023.Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld /Getty Images
Canada, pointed out Eylon Levy, is in danger of being defined by "hateful extremism", an indelible impression he garnered when exposed to raging protesters who shouted "Allahu akbar"
at his presence by invitation at the University of Calgary to address
interested students wanting more information about the conflict between
Israel and those who govern Gaza, the Hamas terrorist group, outlawed in
most civil democratic countries of the West. Mr. Levy simply pointed
out that Canadians themselves already know, and what the rest of the
world has been watching at a distance, with incredulity.
A
once-civil country for which courtesy to others was a sacrosanct duty
of every citizen, where freedom of speech, religion, movement and
ideology was guaranteed, along with equality of persons irrespective of
origin, belief, religious devotion and cultural/ethnic backgrounds.
Canadian laws still guarantee all those freedoms and security promises,
but under the current government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's
Liberals, societal-protective laws and just responses to slanderous and
violent protests have been ignored.
Freedom
of speech is guaranteed by this government that nonetheless
countenances expressions of pure, unadulterated racism and declarations
of hatred, along with statements in support of terrorism. While at the
same time, freedom of speech is openly challenged and blocked for any
who espouse truthful accuracy to counter-balance the spewing of
fabrications and false accusations of that overworked word 'genocide'.
Genocide attributed to the only people who have actually experienced it
in this past century while justifying the violent sadistic savagery
brought to that same people by the most virulent exponents of
antisemitism.
Students take part in a rally in support of Palestine at the University of Calgary on Oct. 7, 2024. Photo by Brent Calver/Postmedia
Those
who oppose the existence of Israel on grounds that the ancestral Judaic
geography is a hoax of history by colonialist diaspora Jews who have
wrested it from the actual colonialist Arabs of Egyptian and Syrian
ancestry identifying as Palestinian, insist on their right to belittle,
excoriate, slander and threaten any who speak in support of Israel and
Jewish existence in their homeland, stridently and unlawfully cancelling
their speech, justifying themselves as human rights supporters.
The
university administration appears to have been aware that Palestinians,
Muslims and their supporters on campus would plan for a loud and
violent reaction organized to forcefully deny the featured speaker of
the evening, Eylon Levy, along with the Jewish students and any others
interested in his explanations. The October 31 lecture saw deputy
provost Robin Yates and provost Sandra Davidson at the classroom where
the lecture was taking place.
A university official rushed ahead of the anti-Israel mob that was pressing toward the classroom, stating they could "be subject to arrest".
Posted outside the door of the classroom were security guards
attempting to block the protesters from entry. The protesting mob
spouted invective at the provost pair along with the security team. "We were offered an opportunity to hear him speak, but now we're being blocked", one student declared to the security guards. "Academic freedom, Academic freedom" the crowd shouted.
This represents a general opinion site for its author. It also offers a space for the author to record her experiences and perceptions,both personal and public. This is rendered obvious by the content contained in the blog, but the space is here inviting me to write. And so I do.
