Emboldening antisemites in Canada
It is well-known that antisemitism is at an all-time high in Canada and in democracies around the world. This week, the Jewish community was outraged by the violent assault of a Jewish-israeli teen in New Brunswick. The video of the attack, which took place last month, showcases one of the most heinous hate crimes against a Jewish person that I have ever seen in my 30-year career fighting antisemitism.
The Jewish student, who attends Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton, was attacked from behind and repeatedly punched by another girl. Despite the victim’s injuries, including black eyes, bruises and cuts, the school simply advised the victim to use the teachers’ washroom and remain inside. Rather than expelling the attacker, the school suspended her for only five days, leaving the victim to endure continued harassment.
Why should we be surprised that antisemitism in this country is becoming violent? Our political leaders have tacitly supported antisemites, failing to adequately curtail pro-hamas rallies and encampments on university campuses. Boards of education are pressuring schools to adopt anti-israel views into their curriculums, as is the B.C. Teachers’ Federation.
When antisemitism increases and becomes violent, it’s because the other side feels empowered to express its hate. This week, Mayor Olivia Chow of Toronto sent a troubling message by not attending the Israeli flag-raising ceremony at City Hall. As one of the event’s speakers, I was disappointed that the Jewish community — a community integral to the city’s social fabric for over 150 years — was disrespected by the mayor.
It is not far-fetched to suggest that this contributes to the toxic environment we are witnessing. Instead of taking a firm stance by strengthening hate crime and hate speech laws, attending Jewish events to show support and condemning calls for genocide and the eradication of the Jewish state, many of our leaders are standing on the sidelines or tweeting about it.
This attitude has emboldened pro-hamas students to establish tent settlements on our campuses. These camps are not about “free speech.” They incite violence and influence youth towards terrorism. During my visit to the University of Toronto camp this week, I was struck by the violence-promoting posters adorning the fencing around the field.
Notable examples include a poster of a youth slinging a rock, another with the message “We’ll resist” and one featuring a pig with the words “No pigs” targeting police authority. Such displays would not be tolerated if they targeted any other group, underscoring the racist, discriminatory and pro-terrorism nature of this project. This behaviour is not only likely to violate the student code of conduct and hate speech laws, but also severely impacts the well-being of Jewish students and faculty who report feeling increasingly harassed and intimidated.
At a meeting I attended in Washington, D.C., on Islamic extremism, a young Egyptian woman shared that she never imagined seeing the same radical strategies in our schools and campuses, where students are turned against Israel and the West. She had to flee her country within hours for speaking out against Hamas. Is this the future we want for Canada?
Yet, there is hope. Numerous political leaders and community members gathered this week, first at Israel’s remembrance ceremony for the fallen, and then at Toronto’s City Hall and the Ontario legislature to celebrate Israel’s 76th anniversary of independence. This incredible show of support demonstrates that many leaders still recognize the difference between good and evil. We need to champion them.
Elie Wiesel famously said, “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” The Israeli-jewish girl who was assaulted at her school in Fredericton is the tormented. I choose to stand with her and a free and democratic nation (Israel) that shares our values, rather than with a group like Hamas that promotes hate, incitement and violence.
OUR POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE TACITLY SUPPORTED ANTISEMITES.