‘They saw there were no consequences for their illegal behaviour, they became emboldened, and they figured that they can now — with impunity — express their core desires’
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While antisemitic slogans shouted during a weekend anti-Israel protest triggered a rare, online-only rebuke from the prime minister, Canadian Jewish groups blame the deafening silence from Canada’s political leaders for emboldening protesters, resulting in a conspicuous increase in hateful rhetoric.
On Saturday, swarms of masked anti-Israel protesters marched through downtown Ottawa, waving banners, flags and chanting in front of Parliament Hill in support of the Oct. 7 terror attacks that killed hundreds of people in Israel and saw hundreds more taken hostage.
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“Our resistance and attacks are proof that we are almost free,” shouted a protester in widely shared video by videographer Chris Dacey.
“October 7th is proof that we’re almost free. Long live October 7th. Long life the intifada. Long live every form of resistance.”
Among those who reacted to the video was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“There is a difference between peaceful protest and hateful intimidation,” read he posted on X on Sunday at 7:17 p.m.
“It is unconscionable to glorify the antisemitic violence and murder perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th. This rhetoric has no place in Canada.”
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Other leaders, including Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, as well as the leaders of the Ontario Liberals and NDP, issued no statements or condemnations of the protests.
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre tweeted on Sunday morning “I condemn these pro-genocide, anti-semitic chants. We stand with Jews in Canada and around the world against these malicious words and deeds.”
Saturday certainly wasn’t the first time anti-Israel protesters gleefully invoked the October 7 attacks, where scores of Hamas terrorists unleashed a campaign of murder, sexual assault and kidnappings that left over 1,000 people in Israel dead (including Canadians) and over 200 people, including children, taken hostage.
B’nai Brith Canada advocacy director Richard Robertson said months of virtual silence from political leaders — particularly the prime minister — is directly responsible for the increase in antisemitic, pro-violence rhetoric.
“It’s incumbent upon leaders across the entire country to be proactively engaged in measures that will reduce the level of incitement,” he said.
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“To see our Canadian government passively enabling such is deeply concerning, not just for the Jewish community, but also for the national security of the country.”
Shimon Koffler Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) said it’s up to the country’s leaders to make clear that antisemitic hatred and support for Palestinian terrorism aren’t welcome here.
“We’re not looking at small gatherings where whispers of ‘long live the intifada’ are being uttered,” he said.
“These are large crowds gleefully cheering what Hamas did, and egging on their leaders who proudly yell into loudspeakers about what it is that they want.”
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After weeks of accusations of police indulgence — particularly in Toronto where police were roundly criticized for delivering coffee to protesters occupying a bridge in the heart of Toronto’s Jewish neighbourhood — cops have been arresting more protesters for lawbreaking.
On Monday, Ottawa police confirmed an investigation is underway in connection with Saturday’s protests.
Politicians weren’t always so hesitant to speak up, particularly in the hours after October 7, while anti-Israel activists in Canada took to the streets to celebrate the terror attacjs.
“There was uniform condemnation from the political sector, it was clear it was unequivocal, and it was explicit,” Fogel said.
“And then, all of a sudden, it became muted.”
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Fogel suspects constant harassment of Liberal MPs by anti-Israel protesters — including the cancellation of a Toronto reception for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after protesters mobbed the entrances — may have done its job.
“Their tactics of seeking to intimidate people had good effect,” he said.
“They saw there were no consequences for their illegal behaviour, they became emboldened, and they figured that they can now, with impunity, express their core desires, and we saw that over the weekend (in Ottawa).”
Robertson said that while Canadian Jews are both strong-willed and resilient, there’s a palpable sense of abandonment and ostracisation.
“And that’s going to take a long time to heal,” he said.
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Independent MP Kevin Vuong, among the most vocal MPs on Canada’s growing antisemitisim problem, said politicians who stay silent are making an explicit choice not to stand up to antisemitism.
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“By choosing to do nothing about the hate we’ve been seeing on the streets of our cities, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has provided those who have been calling for genocide and promoting hatred and violence with implicit approval of their actions,” he said.
When National Post asked the Prime Minister’s Office why he had chosen to speak out against Saturday’s protests, unlike previous protests featuring similar hateful language, spokesperson Mohammad Hussain said “The PM has spoken many times on this, specifically to call out hate speech.” Hussain said there was nothing left to add on the matter.
Meanwhile, Fogel said the growing tide of hate and violence won’t stop with just Israel.
“The Jews may be the canary in the coal mine, but what starts with the Jews, never ends with the Jews,” He said.
“Canadians really need to take that to heart.”
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