MONTREAL, QC – Federation CJA and CIJA have witnessed an alarming number of provocative incidents targeting Jewish Montrealers. Incidents include hateful and antisemitic language on signs at an anti-Israel rally, vandalism on the building housing the Israeli consulate, rocks thrown at a peaceful gathering in support of Israel, anti-Israel activists driving through Jewish neighbourhoods and yelling antisemitic slurs, and a proliferation of online posts threatening members of the Jewish community. Federation CJA and CIJA are in close contact with law enforcement, who have made arrests and are investigating a number of these incidents as hate crimes.
In response, CIJA Quebec Vice President Eta Yudin issued the following:
“Riding through Jewish neighbourhoods and yelling anti-Jewish slogans is not expressing a political opinion, it is antisemitic and a provocation aimed at intimidating and instilling fear. The same applies to those who chanted ‘death to Jews’ at recent anti-Israel demonstrations and those who continue to threaten Jews online. As our political leadership has stated, there is no place for hate, violent intimidation, and antisemitism in Quebec. Prime Minister Trudeau, Minister Charette, Opposition Leader Dominique Anglade, Mayor Plante, and Opposition Leader Lionel Perez have all been clear in their condemnation. Our community will not tolerate such acts aimed at intimidating and terrorizing Jews. We call on people of good conscience to join our elected officials in condemning these incidents.”
Federation CJA CEO, Yair Szlak, added:
“Our community’s leadership has forcefully called out the hateful incidents of recent days for what they are: Antisemitism, pure and simple. Nothing justifies rock throwing and assaulting people at a peaceful rally. There are no excuses for driving through Jewish neighbourhoods with the intent to terrorize Jews. Death threats and threats of violence against Jews on the street or online are horrendous and must be unequivocally condemned. Jews are not fair game, no matter your position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We must all stand united against hate. There is simply no room for antisemitism or hate of any kind in our society.”
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) is the advocacy agent of Canada’s Jewish Federations, including Montreal’s Federation CJA.
-30-
Additional information:
- Post on social media stating that “Côte-Saint-Luc is full of Israelis: every flag of Israel should be replaced by a Palestinian flag; every Israeli who is hiding should receive insults; every Israeli in front of us should be broken; we are going to their neighborhood to show them that they can’t win and that we will piss on them; after this is done, we will return to normal.”
- Use of social media to threaten action against residents in Jewish neighborhoods.
- Alleged pepper spray by anti-Israel demonstrators of pro-Israel supporters.
- Rock throwing by anti-Israel demonstrators of pro-Israel supporters.
- Condemnations by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister Benoit Charette, Quebec Liberal Party Leader Dominique Anglade and Mayor Valérie Plante
