Parliament Must Act Now to Prevent Terror Threats

82% of Canadian Jews Say Canada is Less Safe Since Oct. 7

Toronto, ON – September 16, 2024 – With the House of Commons back in session, and in light of a series of recent arrests connected to terror plots planned by Canadian citizens and residents, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) is urging the Government of Canada to take immediate steps to protect the Jewish community and all Canadians from rising terrorist threats.

“The Jewish community in Canada faces an unprecedented and growing threat from extremists emboldened by radical ideologies. Recent arrests have underscored the need for the Canadian government to act decisively to stop the overt pattern of radicalization within our own borders," said Shimon Koffler Fogel, President and CEO, CIJA.

This summer alone, the RCMP apprehended an ISIS-linked father and son team in the “advanced stages of planning a serious, violent attack in Toronto,” a radicalized Alberta man who travelled to Israel was neutralized while attempting to attack border guards with a knife, an Edmonton man was found guilty and sentenced to five years in the U.K. for being a member of a terrorist group, and a Pakistani national was arrested in Canada while travelling to carry out an attack on the Jewish community in New York in support of the Islamic State (ISIL).

The Canadian Jewish community has become increasingly vulnerable in the face of this escalating terror threat. In fact, a new poll commissioned by CIJA measured how recent events in the Middle East have impacted Canada’s Jewish community. The survey found that, in the wake of October 7, Canadian Jews are concerned about antisemitism and believe that both the federal government (85%) and local police (75%) should be doing more to combat it.

Over the past year, there have been attacks on Jewish neighbourhoods, including firebombings of synagogues in Montreal and Vancouver, shots fired at Jewish schools in Toronto and Montreal, and a dramatic increase in hate crimes against Jews.

Near weekly anti-Israel protests with blatant celebrations of terrorism, public promotion of terror organizations like Hamas, and proud displays of their associated symbols have left 79% of Canadian Jews anxious, and 60% feeling less safe as a result of being Jewish.

Additional relevant survey results:

• 82% believe that Canada is less safe for Jews than it was before Oct. 7
• 69% reported that the events in the Middle East have made them more likely to worry about their safety in Canada
• 80% are concerned about antisemitism in their communities
• 79% feel anxious about the large anti-Israel protests
• 36% have been targeted (themselves or a member of their family) by antisemitic remarks since October 7
• 31% have been (themselves or a member of their family) blamed for casualties in Gaza due to their religious identity
• 23% report that they or a member of their family have been alienated from friends or coworkers due to their religious identity
• 20% are more likely to hide their Jewishness now to avoid confrontation
• 75% think that local police should be doing more to combat antisemitism in Canada
• 85% think that the government should be doing more to combat antisemitism in Canada

As a result, CIJA is calling on the Government of Canada to take the following immediate actions to fight this threat:

1. Ban Samidoun: An organization with ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Samidoun has been a key instigator of extremist activity and glorification of terrorism. We urge the government to add Samidoun immediately to its list of terrorist entities.
   
   
2. Outlaw the Glorification of Terrorism: Symbols and acts glorifying terrorism must be made illegal in Canada. In addition to Nazi imagery, these include the public display of terror-affiliated symbols from groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, PFLP, Three Percenters, and ISIS. CIJA stands behind the ongoing advocacy efforts calling for a ban on these dangerous displays, which fuel radicalization and incite violence against communities, including Canadian Jews.
   
   
3. Reassess the Gazan Visa Security Process: In the context of recent threats, we urge the government to reconsider its visa protocols, particularly the decision to grant visas to 5,000 residents of Gaza. While humanitarian considerations are important, there must be a rigorous security assessment in place to prevent individuals with ties to terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) from exploiting Canada's immigration system.

“Canada is in the middle of an extremism crisis – one that puts Canadian lives in danger. Stopping radicalization and the normalization of extremist ideology should be the priority for Parliament for this coming session,” said Fogel. “We call on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to enhance security measures, including banning Samidoun as a terrorist organization, criminalizing the glorification of terrorism, and reassessing the security risks in our immigration screening process. The safety of all Canadians, especially vulnerable communities like ours, must remain a top priority.”

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Additional Background

• Ban the Promotion of Symbols of Terror
• Add Samidoun to the List of Terrorist Entities
• Jewish community victimized in 70% of all religion-motivated hate crimes in Canada
• Polling of Canadian Jews Commissioned by CIJA