This week, we advocated to ensure international aid funds are never used to finance terrorism, worked with law enforcement to support their budget requirements, and argued the absurdity of South Africa’s representations to the International Court of Justice.

Read on to learn more.

The CIJA Team  

Canadian taxpayer dollars should not fund organizations with ties to hate, terror, violence, and antisemitism. 

Last week, Israel provided alarming evidence that at least a dozen employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) played a role in the October 7 attacks against Israel. The intelligence, which U.S. officials have described as credible, shows that upwards of 10% of UNRWA staff working in Gaza – about 1,200 people – have ties to Islamist militant groups, including Hamas, while 50% of the staff are closely related to Hamas terrorists. Israel’s report cites multiple examples of UNRWA’s direct involvement in the October 7 massacre, including claims that one employee kidnapped a woman during the raid, another dispensed ammunition, and another took part in the massacre at a kibbutz where 97 people were killed. 

Canada is among 17 nations – including Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, and the United States – that have frozen funds to UNRWA.  

We are disappointed that Mayor Chow’s 2024 City of Toronto Budget maintained the previously announced shortfall of $12.6M from the Toronto Police Service’s (TPS) requested operating budget, which we felt dismissed the safety and security concerns raised by community members.  

Almost 6,000 community members and allies sent an email through CIJA’s Action Alert to Mayor Chow urging her to refrain from cutting the police’s requested budget so they can continue to protect all Torontonians.  

CIJA will continue to urge Council to prevent any shortfall in funding, so that our police have the tools they need to enforce the law and safeguard the Jewish community – and all Torontonians – from the threat of hate-motivated and other crime. 

On January 26, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered its Order on the Request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).   

An opinion piece in the Toronto Star, written by CIJA's Director of Public Policy & Research (Quebec) Emmanuelle Amar and CIJA VP Richard Marceau, entitled Theatre of the absurd at the International Court of Justice, explores the irrationality of South Africa’s claim of genocide against Israel. Read it here.  

We are grateful to the municipalities and institutions across Canada who, as darkness fell on January 27, illuminated more than 50 public spaces in Canada to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Illuminated landmarks included the Toronto sign and CN Tower, the National Gallery of Canada, Niagara Falls, Montreal’s Olympic Stadium Tower, Vancouver’s BC Place, and St. John’s City Hall in Newfoundland. Each were bathed in yellow, evoking candlelight, in remembrance.

Community Calendar

Communities are gathering in cities across Canada in response to the devastating war on Israel by Hamas and other terror groups in Gaza. Find an event near you.

February 19 | Family Day (CIJA offices closed in BC & ON) 
April 22-30 | Passover

CIJA in the News 

Theatre of the absurd at the International Court of Justice (Toronto Star)

Canada takes no clear position on interim ruling in genocide case against Israel (The Globe & Mail, + The Canadian Press Syndication)

Empêcher un « génocide » – Épisode du vendredi 26 janvier 2024 – Le téléjournal Ottawa-Gatineau – 13:38-16 :35 (ICI Télé Radio-Canada)

Remembering the Holocaust as antisemitism rises across Montreal (Global News)

CIJA Highlighting Importance of Educating Young People About the Holocaust (VOCM)

Holocaust Remembrance Day eyes Okanagan participation (Penticton Herald)

Langara College instructor who praised Hamas attack has been dismissed (Times Colonist, The Vancouver Sun)

Pro-terror college instructor who claimed victory at not being fired … is fired (Ottawa Citizen, + Postmedia Syndication)

CAMPUS WATCH: B.C. college reverses course and fires pro-Hamas instructor it planned to reinstate (True North)

Langara employee no longer on the job after 'activities contrary to the expectations' of the college (CBC News)

Instructor who praised Oct. 7 Hamas attack 'no longer an employee,' Vancouver college says (CTV News Vancouver)

Langara College instructor who made Hamas comments no longer employed with school (CityNews Vancouver)

B.C. English instructor who called Hamas attack 'brilliant' no longer employed by college (Vancouver Is Awesome, + Glacier Media group Syndication)

The International Court of Justice’s decision on Israel’s conduct in Gaza stops short of calling for a ceasefire—but casts a pall on Holocaust remembrance ceremonies (The Canadian Jewish News)

Holocaust Remembrance Day sparks conversations about global rise of antisemitism (Global News)

Propos «antisémites»: Le fédéral congédie un ancien président de syndicat (Le Soleil)

Canada's UNRWA funding pause was a long time coming, observers say (National Post, + Postmedia Syndication)

Canada suspends funding to UNRWA after reports that employees participated in the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel (The Canadian Jewish News)

After a Fredericton synagogue is vandalized, the community turns out for a solidarity vigil (The Canadian Jewish News)

B'nai Brith Canada to file second complaint against agglomeration council (Montreal Gazette)

Archbishop Miller joins in global campaign remembering Holocaust (The B.C. Catholic)

An instructor at Vancouver's Langara College was dismissed due to remarks made at a pro (The Canadian Jewish News)

Cabinet minister refuses to answer reporters' questions on timing of UNRWA funding pause (National Post)

Public would know if Trudeau’s vacation was unacceptable: ethics commissioner (Ottawa Citizen)

Roger Waters dropped by record label after Israel comments (The Jewish Chronicle)

Agence des nations unies : Accusée d'être une « organisation terroriste » – Le téléjournal avec Patrice Roy – 9:23-9:28 (Radio Canada)

Cabinet minister refuses to answer reporters' questions on timing of UNRWA funding pause (National Post, + Postmedia Syndication)

Canada warned to cut off military exports to Israel or face legal challenge (The Globe and Mail)

Létal ou non létal? – Le téléjournal avec Céline Galipeau – 6:39-9:25 (Radio-Canada)

Sanctions against Ottawa school board trustee stayed until judicial review is heard (Ottawa Citizen)

Anti-Israel protesters target Vancouver mayor’s house (Times Colonist)

College instructors group calls on B.C. minister to resign for criticizing pro-Hamas teacher (Richmond News, + Glacier Media Syndication)

Canada had already sent UNRWA $48M when pause announced, GAC confirms (National Post)

Liberalism’s civil war in the reaction to Hamas’ attack: Michael Bonner for Inside Policy (Macdonald Laurier Institute)

Community Careers

Associate Director, University Relations and Public Education | Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver/CIJA

CEO, Ottawa Soloway Jewish Community Centre

Community Engagement Specialist | Jewish Federation of Ottawa

Associate Director, Community Security (Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver)

Director of Grants and Allocations (Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver/CIJA)

Vice President, Community Planning, Partnerships & Innovation (Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver)