August 23, 2024: Proving that the truth is often uncomfortable, my column from last week struck a nerve, prompting a flood of protest letters from the pro-Hamas crowd. In a misguided attempt to stifle free expression, these voices sought to have this newspaper retract my article, which was published in these pages last Saturday.

The Palestinian lobby even went so far as to introduce the newly coined term "anti-Palestinian racism" (APR), a concept designed to suppress critiques of the Palestinian narrative and open dialogue in our democratic society.

But Canada is not Gaza, where critical speech and public discourse are met with brutal repression rather than reasoned debate. In a democracy like ours, it is both permissible and necessary to respectfully assert historical truths, such as the fact that Jews are not colonizers in their ancestral homeland. Indeed, the Jewish people are indigenous to the Land of Israel, a fact that's deeply rooted in history.

It is an incontrovertible historical truth that the Arab states rejected the United Nations partition plan and launched an attack on Israel immediately following its declaration of independence in 1948. Equally undeniable is the fact that prior to 1948, there was no Palestinian state — no flag, no national anthem, no sovereign identity.

The so-called Nakba, often cited as a catastrophe, was, in reality, a consequence of the Arab states' decision to wage war against the nascent Jewish state. And although some Arabs were undoubtedly forced from their homes during that war, no mention is made of the expulsion of over 850,000 Jews from Arab lands, including my own family.

We are fortunate to live in a country where divergent opinions can be expressed without fear of being unjustly demonized. It is within this framework of free speech that I reiterate my long-held belief in the possibility of coexistence — a land shared by two peoples, and a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Such a solution remained within reach until the brutal Hamas assault on Israel on October 7. Sadly, we are no longer blinded by innocence or naivete.

Notably, in all the vitriolic letters I received from the pro-Palestinian and Hamas-supporting community, none advocated for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. In the Palestinian narrative, there is only one solution, and Hamas displayed it to full effect over 10 months ago.

You will never hear Jews chanting, “From the river to the sea Israel will be free,” but somehow the world tolerates an uncompromising and violent Palestinian discourse calling for the genocide of the Jewish people — now openly referred to as “resistance.”

Canada upholds the same democratic principles as the State of Israel, where women enjoy equal rights and the LGBTQ+ community celebrates not one, but two Pride parades, secure in their legal equality. Like all nations that have fought for freedom and the right to return to their homeland, the Jewish people are equally entitled to these fundamental rights. One might ask, "Why is the Palestinians' desire for a country OK for them but not for the Jewish people, who have more right to the land than any other?"

Most educated Canadians understand the gravity of labelling a horrific event as a genocide. Having journeyed to Auschwitz with hundreds of Canadian leaders over the past decade, and having studied the systematic processes that lead to the Holocaust, it is clear to me that while the situation in Gaza is tragic, it does not meet the criteria for genocide.

The Holocaust was a genocide. The atrocities in Rwanda were a genocide. There were genocides in Darfur, in Cambodia and in Bosnia. But from an academic and historical perspective, the conflict in Gaza, though devastating for the innocent people who are used as human shields by Hamas, is not a genocide. To mislabel it as such diminishes the profound historical significance that we, as Canadians, have been taught to recognize and respect.

By wielding the fabricated concept of APR, the Palestine lobby is attempting to intimidate Canadian media into refraining from reporting the truth. This raises the question of why our media landscape often appears skewed, if not outright biased.

Why has the horror of the rapes of Israeli women and the murder of Jewish infants on October 7 not received the coverage it warrants? The answer lies in the fear of being accused of APR and the relentless campaigns of intimidation, like the one targeted at me and this newspaper.

If we succumb to the pro-Palestinian strategy of woke suppression, which seeks to obscure truth and subvert justice, our freedom of speech will be imperilled. This struggle transcends the borders of Israel and Gaza. It is about defending our democracy against the encroaching extremism that threatens to erode the very foundations of our society.

Those of us who have studied genocide, who recognize the peril posed by radical Islamic groups seeking to normalize their narrative within our institutions, are acutely aware of the danger this presents to our social fabric.

But no amount of intimidation — whether through media silencing, campus takeovers or bomb threats against Jewish community institutions — will alter the immutable truth of history: that Jews have every right to live in our homeland and that Jerusalem is our eternal capital.

National Post

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/the-campaign-to-silence-the-truth-about-israel

Aug 16, 2024  

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is fraught with myths, one of the most persistent being the existence of a Palestinian state before Israel’s establishment in 1948. This narrative is historically inaccurate and serves to delegitimize Israel. Understanding the true history is crucial, as the Palestinian narrative continues to be used as propaganda.

Before Israel declared independence in 1948, the region now known as Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip was part of the British Mandate for Palestine, which was established by the League of Nations after the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the First World War.

Under Ottoman rule, the area was divided into various administrative districts, with no distinct political entity known as “Palestine.” The concept of a Palestinian national identity emerged in the 20th century, largely in response to the Zionist movement and increased Jewish immigration in the area.

However, there was never a Palestinian state, flag or anthem. The notion of a pre-existing Palestinian state is a modern fabrication that ignores the region’s actual history.

The modern State of Israel’s legitimacy is rooted in international law and global recognition. On Nov. 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 181, known as the “Partition Plan,” proposing two states — one Jewish and one Arab.

The Jewish community accepted the plan, demonstrating a willingness to compromise for peace. However, the Arab states rejected it, refusing to recognize any Jewish state, and instead launched a military assault on Israel following its declaration of independence on May 14, 1948.

Another pervasive myth is the “Nakba” or “catastrophe,” narrative, which claims that Palestinians were forcibly expelled by Israel in 1948. This version omits the critical context that it was the Arab nations that invaded Israel, causing many Arabs to be expelled or flee their homes.

Rather than absorbing the displaced population, the surrounding Arab countries kept them in refugee camps, using them as pawns to pressure Israel. Organizations like UNRWA perpetuated this situation, keeping Palestinians in limbo rather than encouraging their integration into their host countries. This contrasts sharply with how other refugee populations have been handled, where integration and resettlement are the norm.

The land referred to as “Palestine” has always been inherently Jewish. The Jewish people have maintained a continuous presence there for thousands of years, long before Islam or the Arab conquests.

Archeological artifacts — such as the ancient fortress of Masada, the Dead Sea Scrolls and ancient synagogues — provide irrefutable proof of this enduring presence. The historical Jewish connection to the land is undeniable and should not be overshadowed by modern political narratives. The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem was built atop the Jewish Temple hundreds of years after Jews established Jerusalem.

Another myth is that the West Bank and Gaza have always been Palestinian territories, with Israel acting as an occupier. After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Transjordan annexed the West Bank and Egypt took control of Gaza.

During this period, there was no significant Palestinian independence movement or international push for an independent Palestinian state. The concept of a Palestinian state only gained traction after Israel’s victory in the 1967 Six-Day War, when Israel took control of these areas from Jordan and Egypt.

Israel’s capture of the West Bank in 1967 was a strategic necessity, not an act of expansionism. Surrounded by hostile neighbours, Israel sought to create a buffer zone to protect itself from future attacks. However, this victory also led to Israel gaining control over a large Palestinian population, which had previously been under Jordanian rule.

Breaking the myths that are deeply woven into the narrative surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is crucial. Recognizing the Jewish people’s right to live in Israel does not mean that the land cannot be shared. Indeed, Jews have a long history of seeking peace and coexistence. However, the Palestinian leadership has consistently rejected peace overtures, clinging to a false narrative aimed at Israel’s destruction.

The narrative that Israel is an occupier of lands rightfully belonging to a pre-existing Palestinian state is unsupported by historical facts. Before 1948, there was no Palestinian state. The Land of Israel has always been the ancestral home of the Jewish people, a fact supported by thousands of years of history. Attempts to erase this connection are not only disingenuous, they’re dangerous.

Israel’s existence is legitimate, its borders are recognized by international law and its actions in 1967 were driven by security needs, not territorial conquest. That’s why, in 2005, Israel handed over the Gaza Strip. Yet, rather than building a peaceful state, the Palestinians built a terrorist front to attack Israel.

As we confront today’s challenges, it is vital to shatter the myths distorting the region’s history and to stand firm in defending the truth.

National Post

Avi Benlolo is the founding chairman of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/busting-the-myths-surrounding-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict

Jul 19, 2024

The Jewish community does not require a report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) to confirm the horrors of the October 7 massacre of 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians. HRW has been accused of levying unfounded accusations against Israel, such as the 2021 claims of “apartheid and persecution.” We all know that Israel does not practice apartheid and that the two million Muslims living in Israel are very much part of its society enjoying every right and freedom equally.

The Jewish community and HRW have long been at odds because of this distortion. Despite this, HRW’s report on the Hamas attack in southern Israel, released this week, can illuminate the naysayers on the left. We once believed that the battle against antisemitism would be won through extensive Holocaust education and the proliferation of museums dedicated to this dark chapter in history. Yet, even these efforts seem insufficient in today’s climate, as antisemitism continues to rise to unprecedented levels.

Historically, Jews have been maligned with egregious accusations: deicide (the murder of Jesus), well poisoning during the plague, blood libel (the myth of killing Christian babies for Matzah), and the conspiratorial control of the world as purported by the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion.” These calumnies were meant to be relics of the past.

However, eighty-five years after the Holocaust, Jews are still defending their homeland against Palestinian terrorist groups and combating the lies and distortions surrounding the events of October 7, perpetuated by left-leaning university campuses, unions, the media, and international bodies like the United Nations.

In the aftermath of the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, I encountered the traumatized survivors, gathering evidence to counter the UN’s narrative that the Hamas attack did not occur in a “vacuum” and to address the grotesque denial of rapes at the Nova Party and Kibbutzim.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau initially accused Israel of targeting hospitals in Gaza — a claim proven false. Evidence and video footage now show that Hamas rockets destroyed the pediatric wing of Barzilai Hospital in southern Israel, 12 kilometres from Gaza, while Hamas used hospitals for military purposes and to hide hostages.

Despite HRW’s appeal to the radical left and academia — both often unfairly biased against Israel — its findings, though not earth-shattering to the Jewish community, can help dismantle myths in these circles and the media. HRW has acknowledged, “Palestinian fighters committed killings, hostage-taking, and other war crimes, including the crimes against humanity of murder and wrongful imprisonment,” and has called for the immediate release of hostages.

The lies circulating on social media are particularly vile. One, for example, falsely claims that the Israeli army intentionally killed its own citizens on October 7 under the Hannibal Directive. HRW’s findings can address these lies head-on: “Across many attack sites, Palestinian fighters fired directly at civilians, often at close range, as they tried to flee. They hurled grenades, shot into shelters, and fired rocket-propelled grenades at homes. They set houses on fire, burning and choking people, and forced out others whom they shot or captured. They took dozens hostage and summarily killed others.”

Defending the truth is paramount in the battle to protect Israel and democracy. We must fight for it with vigour and relentlessness, ensuring history is not defined by those who seek to undermine civil society. In this struggle, we must leverage reports that dispel myths, engage social media, educate the public, and unite like-minded leaders who understand the peril of absorbing myths over the truth.

June 21, 2024: While some argue it’s too little too late and others see political maneuvering ahead of byelections, Canada’s recent designation of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization is a significant and welcomed development. 

After years of delay, Canada is finally demonstrating resolve in both domestic and international affairs, especially given recent revelations of an estimated 700 operatives linked to the Iranian regime on Canadian soil. This designation, effective immediately, criminalizes the IRGC’s subversive activities, including espionage, disruption, money laundering, and standing by for instructions to commit acts of terrorism. It is now a criminal offence to take part in IRGC activities, and the list helps law enforcement in prosecuting terror-related crimes.

In a news release, the Government of Canada stated: “Based on their actions, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the IRGC has knowingly carried out, attempted to carry out, participated in, or facilitated terrorist activity, or has knowingly acted on behalf of, at the direction of, or in association with an entity that has knowingly carried out terrorist activity. Listing the IRGC means that they are a terrorist group.” 

For years, there have been ample “reasonable grounds” to believe that the IRGC and their leaders in Tehran have been engaged in terrorism. Iranian expats in Canada have long protested against their government’s repression and crimes against humanity. Since the 1979 Revolution, which brought the current Islamic rulers to power, dissidents have been hunted down, imprisoned, tortured, and executed. 

The brutality of the Iranian regime and its hit-squad, the IRGC, came to global attention when nationwide protests erupted after Mahsa Amini was murdered by the so-called “morality police” while in custody. Iranian women, forced to wear headscarves under Sharia law, faced a violent crackdown. The regime murdered more than 530 protesters and arrested 22,000, many of whom still languish in the notorious Evin Prison. 

Adding to these atrocities, Iran’s reckless actions resulted in the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 in January 2020, killing all 176 passengers on board, including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents. This tragic incident underscored the regime’s blatant disregard for human life and international norms. That incident alone should have forced our government to act.  

Over the years, I was happy to stand with the Iranian community united to push for the IRGC’s designation. The IRGC’s support for terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad cannot be tolerated. The 19,000 rockets fired at Israeli civilians by Hamas and Hezbollah since October 7 were undoubtedly supplied by the IRGC under Tehran’s direction. 

The IRGC has exploited the Syrian civil war, not only supporting Bashar Al-Assad’s brutal campaign against civilians but also establishing command and control centers and training Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists to act as proxies against Israel and the United States. In March 2024, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in Tehran to support ongoing terrorist activities against Israel. 

The 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Argentina and the 1994 bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) in Buenos Aires have been attributed to the Iranian government and Hezbollah. In 2006, Argentine prosecutors formally accused Iran of directing these bombings and Hezbollah of carrying them out. Trying the case again, in April 2024, Argentine judges explicitly labeled Iran a “terrorist state.”

Given the state of the world, I say its better late than never. There could hardly be a clearer case for listing the IRGC, and by extension Iran, as a terrorist organization. This designation significantly undermines Iran’s ability to operate with impunity and wreak havoc worldwide. Canada must not become a haven for terrorism, and with a significant number of IRGC operatives on our soil, law enforcement faces a crucial and challenging task ahead. 

June 14, 2024: If any lessons are to be gleaned from the Holocaust, it is that the world looked away as six million Jews were led into the gas chambers. Once more, the world seems prepared to acquiesce to evil by trying to force the Jewish State of Israel into a ceasefire with Yahya Sinwar — arguably the most malevolent leader since Adolf Hitler — who readies to sacrifice even his own people in pursuit of murdering as many Jews as possible.

A Wall Street Journal analysis of Sinwar’s communiqués with Hamas leaders, who live lavishly in Qatar, revealed the true derangement of Israel’s negotiating partner. Sinwar reportedly stated that Palestinian civilian deaths could benefit his organization, describing them as “necessary sacrifices” and citing past independence-related conflicts in countries like Algeria.

However, many so-called civilians in Gaza are complicit in Hamas’s war crimes. Three of the four Israeli hostages rescued last weekend were held in the home of a physician, Dr. Ahmed Aljamal, and his son, Abdallah Aljamal, a journalist who had reportedly contributed to Al Jazeera. Additionally, other Israeli hostages released in previous months reported being kept in residential homes, and many of the October 7 perpetrators appeared to be civilians.

By pressuring Israel, the West fails to recognize this conflict as a religious struggle rather than one motivated by politics. Sinwar compares the Gaza war to the Battle of Karbala, a 7th-century engagement in which the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad was killed while fighting a greater power. The battle inspires religious zealots like Sinwar to envision doomsday scenarios, preparing to fight to the last man or woman.

Sinwar reportedly told Hamas leadership, “We have to move forward on the same path we started … or let it be a new Karbala.” Even while holed up in an underground bunker in Gaza, using his people as human shields, Sinwar’s warped mind probably believes he is a prophet and this is his religious moment: “We have the Israelis right where we want them.”

Given this significant revelation, the international community is playing Russian roulette with Israel’s safety and security. Negotiation cannot be had with religious zealots. Besides, what happened to the now-infamous moral adage to never negotiate with terrorists?

After 9/11, the United States hunted and killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, pummeled the Taliban in Afghanistan and captured Saddam Hussein, who was later executed in Iraq. The U.S. went on the offensive to defend its homeland, some 10,000 kilometres away. How did the international community respond?

With far fewer condemnations and virtually no calls for ceasefire, because those conflicts haven’t been met with the slander, defamation and false accusations motivated by pure antisemitism as Israel faces today. Even Ukraine’s right to defend itself against Russia is rarely called into question, given the large-scale attacks and counterattacks on both sides, which started with Russia’s invasion.

By attempting to force Israel into a ceasefire with a madman with an end-of-time plan, the international community reveals an utter weakness that is undermining western civilization. For the first time in recent history, radicals aligned with Hamas are violently attacking Jewish communities, occupying street corners and university campuses, while brazenly disrupting civic life in contravention of our laws.

Here is the hard, cold truth: Hamas isn’t interested in a ceasefire or in releasing the hostages. Religiously motivated, Hamas believes it can outlast Israel. The West continues to foolishly undermine Israel while emboldening Hamas. But what both forget is that Israelis will never forget October 7 — an atrocity that reignited their resolve, and motivated them, if necessary, to fight until the end of time.

For over 3,000 years, antisemitism has been 'layering,' first taking on religious, then ethnic and now political character

Author of the article:Avi BenloloPublished Jun 01, 2024  

While producing my documentary film, The Future of Israel and Its Defenders, I had the opportunity to interview Noa Tishby, who was then Israel’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism and Promote Holocaust Remembrance. Tishby, a best-selling author, sought to educate those who misunderstand Israel through her insightful work.

Israel, we can all agree, is misunderstood now more than ever. But that misunderstanding is not Israel’s fault or a problem with its own public relations. It’s a pervasive issue that involves a one-sided media that refuses to tell the public the truth. It involves subterfuge at the highest echelons of the United Nations, the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. A false narrative is dispersed on campuses, in politics and unions, meant to undermine Israel’s legitimacy.

In a follow-up on-stage interview with Tishby at The Abraham Global Peace Initiative’s annual dinner, The Crystal Ball Benefit, I reflected on how much had changed. Just two years ago, Israel was enjoying unprecedented global admiration. Its economy was booming, particularly its hi-tech sector; Its Arab population was quickly integrating and even joining the governing coalition, and Israel’s efforts to normalize relations with its neighbours was gaining momentum.

The entire script in the Middle East changed on October 7. Instead of garnering long-term sympathy for the heinous murders and rapes committed, Israel faced denials, distortions, and sabotage within the international community. It was literally the “end of the innocence” we seemed to be holding onto since the sun began shining on Israel with the onset of The Abraham Accords.

Alongside America, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco, Israel embarked on a ground breaking peacemaking campaign. Peace with Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria, and perhaps even Malaysia seemed imminent. “The Abraham Accords represent the most significant achievement for Israel and the Middle East,” Tishby stated.

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She remains optimistic that the continuation and expansion of these accords are still possible and believes that Saudi Arabia will join at the right moment. Despite the traumatic impact of Hamas’ assault on October 7, Tishby holds onto the conviction shared by many in our generation: peace with the Palestinians is achievable if there is a change in political leadership on both sides.

However, a change in political leadership on the Israeli side may not be the only problem. We delved into the complex issue of terrorism driven by radical Islam and Jihadism — ideologies not only intent on eradicating Israel but also threatening the stability of the West. This destructive ideology, according to Tishby, is a concern not just for Israel but also for countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which fear the instability it fosters within their own borders.

Tishby reflects that this pattern of adversity has been a constant throughout Jewish history. From periods of quiet acceptance to times of vilification, attack, and murder, antisemitism has evolved and manifested in various forms. Tishby poignantly describes antisemitism as something that continually changes and metastasizes — not dissimilar to a virus.

For over 3,000 years, antisemitism has been “layering,” as Tishby puts it — beginning with religious hatred, then racially motivated animosity falsely justified by pseudoscience (as seen with the Nazis), and now politically driven, in the form of anti-Zionism, which has morphed into full-blown antisemitism. Although we may have experienced a brief respite from antisemitism in recent decades, history teaches us that we must always be prepared to combat this persistent hatred.

To confront this reality, Tishby rightly believes that enhancing Jewish education is essential for our children. We agreed the current approach of Holocaust education and museum-building has proven insufficient. As I remarked, “Providing Holocaust education and building Holocaust museums has clearly not worked.”

Yet, Tishby offers a note of optimism. She observes that the events of October 7 have galvanized the Jewish community, bringing a renewed sense of strength and resilience. For the first time in a long while, more Jews are embracing Zionism, uniting in action, and displaying their pride and courage on university campuses.

Published May 17, 2024

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 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.

National Post

Avi Abraham Benlolo is the founder and CEO of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/avi-benlolo-antisemitic-violence-in-canadian-schools-a-result-of-absent-leadership

May 10, 2024

The following is adapted from a speech given by Avi Benlolo, founder and CEO of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative, at a Yom ha-Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) commemoration in Jerusalem on Monday.

At 10:00 a.m. this morning, sirens echoed across Israel, a sombre tribute to the six-million Jewish souls — innocent children, women and men — whose lives were extinguished in the engulfing darkness of the Holocaust. In this hushed moment, Israelis stood in unwavering solidarity, bowing in reverence to their collective memory.

Today, amidst the hallowed grounds of Jerusalem, the Abraham Global Peace Initiative stands alongside cherished friends at the Friends of Zion Museum to honour Yom ha-Shoah — a solemn occasion that unites hearts across continents.

With deep gratitude, we welcome each of you who have chosen to stand with us today. Our agenda holds profound significance, as we convene a gathering of esteemed speakers, both live and through the virtual lens of Zoom, to navigate the depths of this historic day and contemplate the ominous rise of antisemitism today.

This year, October 7 bears the weight of harrowing recollections from the annals of the Holocaust. On that fateful day, 1,200 precious lives were cruelly snatched away from us, their voices silenced by unfathomable violence. More than 250 were cruelly torn from their families, leaving behind a haunting absence. Our prayers fervently echo for the safe return of the remaining 132 hostages.

Just yesterday, I walked amidst the ruins of Kfar Aza, a tranquil kibbutz now scarred by the merciless onslaught of Hamas. There, in that serene enclave, around 50 souls were mercilessly lost, with another 20 or so torn from their loved ones. A number of their brethren remain captive, their absence a poignant testament to the depths of our collective sorrow.

As I traversed the desolate streets, where once laughter danced in the air, I couldn't help but be seized by a profound sense of deja vu. The parallels to the Holocaust were hauntingly palpable — families torn asunder, lives shattered in an instant and dreams extinguished by the flames of hatred.

The memories of the Holocaust are etched indelibly into our national consciousness. Yet, unlike our forebearers, we are not defenceless. We stand fortified by the stalwart guardianship of the Israel Defence Forces, a beacon of strength in our darkest hour.

And while our defences faltered on October 7, our resolve remains unyielding. For here, in the heart of Jerusalem, the eternal capital of our beloved Israel, we stand united in our determination to defend our homeland.

The Holocaust serves as a sombre reminder of our resilience in the face of adversity. It binds us together as a people, fortifying our spirit against the encroaching shadows of evil. While the events of October 7 bear no comparison to the atrocities of yesteryear, they serve as a stark testament to the enduring threat we face.

Had it not been for the valour of the IDF, the repercussions of Hamas's genocidal ambitions would have been unfathomable. Today, as we mourn the loss of the six million and the countless others who perished, let us remember that these tragedies do not define us — they embolden us.

"Never again" is not merely a refrain; it is a clarion call to action.

To all those watching from the sanctity of your homes, I implore you to heed the wisdom of our forefathers: "You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it."

Our resolve shall not waver, our efforts shall not falter. We shall continue to build our nation, even as we honour the cherished memories of those we have lost. May their legacy be a guiding light in our darkest hours.

May their memory be a blessing

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/a-chilling-reminder-of-the-importance-of-holocaust-remembrance

Published May 03, 2024

The encampments now taking hold of Canadian and American campuses are nothing short of an assault on Judeo-Christian values of freedom, democracy, and human rights. For all the so-called “equity, diversity, and inclusivity” (EDI) champions workshopping these values in corporate and public boardrooms, where are your voices now — when Jewish students and faculty are physically obstructed from attending university? Silence. 

Antisemitism has been hiding in plain sight all these years as universities integrated and institutionalized falsehoods propagated by pro-Palestinian campaigns like “Israeli apartheid week” and “Boycott, Divest and Sanction” (BDS). While everyone else was looking away, excusing bad behaviour as “free speech,” universities have been overtaken by radical students, faculty, and unions. 

For nearly 25 years, we warned them relentlessly, that what starts with the Jews will certainly not end with them. Throughout time and place, in any society, we have always been the most vulnerable community. At UBC, a sign posted on the encampment read, “Zionists F--- Off”. In every generation, we are the target of the shortcomings of a failing and frustrated society that often requires a scapegoat. 

But now they are not only coming after Jews. They are coming after everyone else. They are camping out on your lawns. They are stopping your children and staff from attending classes. And since for two decades, the universities refused to do anything about it, they are now becoming physical — breaking down doors and windows, as they did this week at Columbia and now at UCLA.   

We often quote Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemoller's famous “first they came for” saying: “first they came for the communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the socialists … then they came for the trade unionist … then they came for the Jews but I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me”. 

Funny thing, Niemoller is said to have first aligned himself with Hitler’s beliefs. It was only after Hitler interfered with the church and put Niemoller in concentration camps that he spoke out. People speak out when there is self-interest. If you are not Jewish, in case you haven’t noticed, your self-interest is in jeopardy. They are coming after you next. 

Our universities are being overrun by people who are aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist group that on October 7 murdered 1,200 people in cold blood, including babies and children and raped and mutilated countless women.

Their obstruction of Jewish students from attending class is not dissimilar to the Taliban’s obstruction of women from attending school. If you are not of the Jewish faith, it's time for you to rise up and listen to Niemoller (out of self-interest) and take action. This fight is not about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or about the war with Hamas. It’s a fight about your freedom and the future of western democracy. 

The pro-Hamas protesters are supporting an entity that is oppressive, undemocratic, and certainly does not uphold values of equity, diversity, and inclusivity. Fundamentally, they are anti-capitalist anarchists who are using this opportunity to disrupt our foundational values, which represent our core beliefs. 

The pro-Hamas activists who have upended universities, who have made their presidents shake at the knees, and who have forced our police officers to risk their lives — are holding entire communities hostage by aligning with Hamas. We should not be “negotiating with terrorists.” Students not adhering to a university's code of conduct and to the laws of the land should be fined, arrested, and expelled. 

If there is a message I can leave with you today, especially if you are not targeted as part of the Jewish community, your voice is crucial and necessary now more than ever. Call your Member of Parliament and your provincial representative. Write letters to your local university presidents and tell your friends why this is important for their own self-interest. As usually happens in any failed society, after they are done targeting the Jewish community, they will be coming after everyone else. 

National Post

Avi Benlolo is the founder and CEO of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/avi-benlolo-arrest-and-expel-the-hamas-sympathizers-camping-on-campuses

The stakes are high for the Middle East, and most Gulf states recognize Iran as an existential threat

Iran attempted to inflict pain and suffering on Israel by launching over 200 ballistic and cruise missiles and at least one hundred slow-moving drones. Its aim was to kill as many Israeli civilians as possible and destroy several military bases, including Nevatim, housing the F35 squadron said to have destroyed Iran’s Damascus embassy, killing senior military personnel.

While Iran’s attack was sophisticated and should not be underestimated, it failed miserably on all accounts, showing the world that its weapons are light-years behind the State of Israel and its allies. Israel’s air force and Arrow counter-missile system knocked out thousands of tons of Iranian projectiles, almost like target practice. Israel even saved the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem from being hit by an Iranian missile.

In an unprecedented attack, Iran managed to bring together a coalition of partners who helped form a protective shield for Israel.  The Jordanians, despite their pro-Palestinian domestic politics, must be thanked for shooting down numerous Iranian drones heading for Israel. Joining the U.S. in defending Israel were also France, Britain, the U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia. One can only imagine that numerous other countries, including Greece and Italy, were on the ready.

Given Canada’s ban on providing military aid to Israel (which amounts to a few goggles), it was missing in action. All our prime minister and foreign minister could muster is a condemnation of Iran, which fell on deaf ears given Canada’s wavering commitment to Israel since Oct. 7.

Attacking Israel exposed Iran’s exceptional weakness while inviting Israel to respond directly with its military edge. President Biden is discouraging Israel from a counterattack, telling it to "take the win." It's true that Israel won the day, but is that enough? It's also correct to say that Iran’s pariah status has also been re-established, after its long-forgotten history in global intrigue and terrorism.

Motivated by a violent Islamic messianic religious belief, Iran’s religious rulers ignored President Joe Biden’s “don’t” warning and went ahead with an attack anyway. Even while their pre-coordinated attack failed, they proved America’s threats are hollow, given its encouragement of Israel to step away from the brink of a counterattack.

In The New York Times, although he is usually hard on Israel, Thomas Friedman said, “Iran just made a big mistake. There needs to be a massive, sustained, global initiative to isolate Iran — to deter it from trying such an adventure again … a missile could have hit Al-Aqsa mosque. Another could have hit the Israeli parliament or a high-rise apartment house, causing massive casualties.”

The truth is that Israel saved Iran from itself. Had there been destruction and more casualties (a Bedouin girl was injured), Iran would have suffered an immediate counterattack from Israel’s allies, setting it back twenty years. Israeli correspondent Amos Harel said this was “an unprecedented achievement in the history of Israel’s wars … that largely takes away the main card held by Iran and the axis.”

Even while a new poll found that 74 per cent of Israelis oppose a counterstrike on Iran "if it undermines Israel’s security alliance with its allies,” others like former British Colonel Richard Kemp believe that “only a devastating response against Iran will reduce the chances of further escalation and perhaps at least disrupt the nuclear weapons program.” A response however he says, will come with consequences.

Iran is a menace to the world. An editorial in The Telegraph concluded that “Tehran has cast a long shadow over the world. From its direct funding of the evil of Hamas in Israel, to the proxies it uses to assault shipping in the Red Sea, to its assassination plots on British soil, it has constantly sought to undermine global order … the time for appeasement is now over.”

Israel, in other words, should not be left to defend the world against Iran alone. Its hands are already full with Hamas to the south and Hezbollah in the north, not to mention Palestinian terrorism in the West Bank and the Houthis and other terrorist groups aiming for a piece of the action. Iran, in other words, is not an Israel problem. It’s a global problem.

The stakes are high for the Middle East, and most Gulf states recognize Iran as an existential threat. For this reason, they passed along intelligence, participated in a command and control center at a U.S. base in Qatar, and opened their airspace to allied fighter jets, including Israeli. Now the coalition must come together to nullify Iran and its proxies from ever executing an attack of this scale or greater in the future. It's in everyone’s interest.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/avi-benlolo-israel-proves-it-is-not-alone

Published Apr 05, 2024

The tragic loss of seven World Central Kitchen staff members providing aid in Gaza exposed not only the dire consequences of war but also the not-so-shocking media and political bias against Israel. We are heartbroken over the "seven heroes" accidentally killed in an IDF strike on their aid convoy.

Sadly, in war zones, aid workers who give a helping hand purely out of the goodness of their hearts are among the innocent victims. Speaking from personal experience, when humanitarians venture into war zones, they are uniquely aware of the life-and-death situation they place themselves in, as is their employer.

It’s time for the world to realize that Israel is in a brutal war with the most vicious terrorist organization on the planet. It is engaged in unprecedented urban guerrilla warfare, whereby Hamas terrorists dress like civilians, hide in hospitals, and transport themselves in ambulances. As such, Israel has already made many intelligence errors, even accidentally killing its own citizens fleeing their Hamas captors.

Civilians are used as human shields, kindergartens are used to fire rockets, and every inch of Gaza is booby-trapped by IEDs (something Canadians are familiar with from Afghanistan). All this doesn’t even bring into the equation the hundreds of miles of tunnels crisscrossing the area, virtually making Hamas terrorists ghosts in the face of Israel’s war machine.

All this doesn’t justify the lapse in judgment and intelligence that led to the targeting of WCK’s aid workers. We have seen similar occurrences in other war zones, such as on Aug. 29, 2021, when a U.S. drone fired a missile at a truck in Kabul, killing an aid worker and 10 other civilians, including seven children.

After initially denying the tragic incident, weeks later, the U.S. military acknowledged the attack was a mistake after footage surfaced showing three children coming to greet the target at his car before they were all killed. Still, the world was quiet. The media was relatively silent on this occasion and many others.

No world leaders pounced on the opportunity to vigorously denounce the U.S., especially not Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — as he had quickly done when he wrongly thought Israel had bombed al-Alhi Hospital last fall. "We obviously need full accountability and investigation in this," Trudeau said about the aid worker killings, even while Israel had already taken responsibility and announced an investigation.

The media too was all over this rare opportunity to portray Israel in a negative light. Some television stations played and replayed Israel’s video clip announcing its deep sorrow — guilty as charged! The unspoken backstory the media tried to convey was a reinforcement of the false “genocide” libellous claim repeated by pro-Hamas protesters in our streets.

But where was the media when it was revealed that the staff of an aid organization (UNRWA) were involved in the murders and rapes of Oct. 7? Where was the media when Canada announced it was restarting funding to UNRWA despite allegations of complicity in terror?

What's more, where is the media about the human rights of the 134 Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza? Would it show too much sympathy for the Israeli side to discuss the ongoing sexual assaults and rapes happening now to female hostages — as disclosed by former female hostages?

Responsibility for the carnage in Gaza is Hamas’s alone. When it launched its war on Israel, it anticipated an overwhelming response. It cares not for its civilian population, much less for aid workers. That is, unless they can be of service to its ambition to murder Jews, such as UNRWA had been.

Instead of siding with a terrorist organization (Hamas) and calling on Israel to make concessions, world leaders would do the Palestinian people a favour by calling on it to lay down its weapons and surrender. It's time for Hamas to stop they should say.

World Central Kitchen must be commended for its efforts to feed the hungry and to take immeasurable risks to help the people in Gaza. What the world needs is more people, like those tragically killed, who display altruism, care, and concern for others. Siding with terrorists like Hamas, however, will never bring us closer to this vision for a better world.

Avi Abraham Benlolo is the Founder and CEO of The Abraham Global Peace Initiative.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/avi-benlolo-siding-with-hamas-wont-honour-aid-workers-killed-in-mistaken-israeli-attack

This week’s horrendous political coup, in which the anti-Israel NDP hijacked Canada's foreign policy has paved the way for a new strain of antisemitism. It is in this climate that the editors of La Presse deemed it acceptable to publish a Nazi-era style cartoon, depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a vampire.

On the same day Parliament admonished its friend and ally, Israel, by declaring a de facto arms embargo. It pretended to embody Canadian values by also paying tribute to former prime minister Brian Mulroney. Given Mulroney's relentless support of Israel and fight against antisemitism, what took place in Parliament on that fateful day was a disgrace to his memory.

Mulroney elevated Canada’s standing in the world. He befriended Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, and reinforced their friendship, helping motivate the fall of the Iron Curtain and non-proliferation nuclear treaties.

Mulroney understood Canada’s imperative place in the world and ensured we stayed relevant. Former prime minister Stephen Harper studiously followed in Mulroney’s footsteps. In G7 meetings and global affairs, he projected a mature and principled demeanour that elevated Canada’s status on the world stage.

Having traveled with Harper on his inaugural and historic visit to Israel in 2014, I witnessed the standing ovation he received in the Knesset when he declared, “Through fire and water, Canada will stand with you.” Canadians were jubilant, recognizing Harper’s commitment to Israel was deeper than Israel itself.

It was about fighting radical Islam and Jihadism, the same strain responsible for 9/11. It was about protecting our shared values of freedom, democracy, and human rights. It was about standing with an ally and friend surrounded by hostile neighbours seeking its destruction. And yes, it was about defending the Jewish people’s right to exist in their homeland after 2,000 years of persecution.

But now things are different for Canada. Our foreign policy has been hijacked by parliamentarians who lack the sophistication to distinguish between good and evil. History will indeed judge Canada harshly, as noted by Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz.

In hindsight, Canada seems to always apologize for its poor judgment. In recent years, our government has apologized for nearly everything under the sun, including when it turned the St. Louis back to Germany in 1939, where most of its Jewish passengers were gassed to death. Now we wonder if these apologies were sincere.

I was in the House of Commons when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued that apology, which expressed remorse for blocking Jews from protecting themselves and their loved ones from fleeing Hitler’s gas chambers. He said this would never happen again. But it happened again this week when his party, along with the NDP and the Bloc Québécois, decided to give a genocidal terrorist organization (Hamas) the upper hand by promising to block arms sales to Israel that would help the Jewish people defend themselves.

Canada’s lean-in to radical and terrorist groups like Hamas is disconcerting to many Canadians. The reverberations are felt in Europe and America, where in my travels around the globe, many shake their heads in bewilderment, asking just what happened to Canada? They wonder how Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, and a noted Member of Parliament, Ya’ara Sacks, could stand warmly alongside the terror-inciting, Holocaust-denying, corrupt Palestinian “President” Mahmoud Abbas.

Our long-standing foreign policy is withering away. Canadians at large — those who are paying attention — find this behaviour irresponsible and reprehensible. They worry about Canada losing its moral high ground on the world stage. They see our traditional values eroding and our stance with democratic allies diminishing. Most want the good old days back when being Canadian meant something more than a passport and a quiet place to live.

There is a systematic effort in our institutions to erode our global standing and our long-held alliances that placed us in a community of allied democratic nations. What happened this week in parliament is a wake-up call for all Canadians: we need to stand our ground and voice our displeasure, so that we can once again feel proud and free.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/avi-benlolo-canadian-foreign-policy-hijacked-for-hamass-benefit

The enemy is cruel, religiously motivated and willing to put its own civilian population in harm's way. A ceasefire won't change that

Mar 15, 2024 

President Joe Biden is engaging in a risky game of chicken with his greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel. While his support for Israel’s war effort has been commendable, in recent days, his rebuke of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become sharper. A few days ago, he had the audacity to say of Netanyahu, “he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken…. He’s hurting Israel more than helping Israel.”

Given this false narrative, it’s Biden who is hurting Israel by failing to recognize the impossibility of the situation. To back Israel in destroying Hamas on one hand, and tell its prime minister to effectively stop the military campaign against what is arguably the most dangerous terrorist group on the planet, is duplicitous. Now, the Senate majority leader of the United States, Chuck Schumer, is reinforcing Biden’s message by calling for early elections in Israel, crossing the Rubicon of respecting the nation’s sovereignty.

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But the doublespeak continues. Biden and the White House are denying setting any red lines to withhold arms shipments. At the same time, it’s discouraging Israel from clearing out the hornets’ nest in Rafah, near Gaza’s southern border with Egypt. Leaving Rafah intact with the Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and four of the terror group’s battalions in charge would be suicidal for Israel. Allowing the terrorist group to reconstitute and re-establish control of Gaza would disallow Israel a decisive victory. Why would anyone in their right mind agree?

Most significantly, since Hamas has rejected all recent ceasefire initiatives, it’s abundantly clear that the return of 134 Israeli hostages is dependent on military intervention. Undoubtedly, Sinwar and his thugs are keeping them close by as human shields, for their final stand. What’s more, like any government, Israel is required to re-establish security for the towns and villages near Gaza, where some 80,000 civilians reside.

Few military experts agree with Biden’s presumption. In their view, Israel has quickly figured out the most effective methodology to conduct urban warfare against an unprecedented combat situation. It must confront terrorists who are hiding behind civilians, scurrying about in hundreds of miles of tunnels and weaponizing every building and road within its reach.

While Israel is doing everything within its power to preserve civilian lives, Hamas wants as many civilian deaths as possible to sow division among Israel’s allies. Speaking to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) this week, Netanyahu pressed the point that Israel goes out of its way to protect civilians. He said, “for Israel, every civilian death is a tragedy. For Hamas, every civilian death is a strategy.”

Netanyahu’s right when he says it’s wrong and immoral to hold Israel to a standard not applied to any other country on the matter of avoiding civilian casualties. Those nations that say Israel has a right to exist, but disallow it from exercising the right to defend afforded every other nation on Earth. For this basic reason, Israel is unified in its desire to bring security back by destroying and dismantling Hamas.

Netanyahu’s message at AIPAC to world leaders was: “You cannot say you support Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself and then oppose Israel when it exercises that right. You cannot say you support Israel’s goal of destroying Hamas and then oppose Israel when it takes the actions necessary to achieve that goal. You cannot say that you oppose Hamas’s strategy of using civilians as human shields and then blame Israel for the civilian casualties that result from this Hamas cynical strategy.”

Hamas plays on world sympathy by allowing its people to starve on the street. It could have laid down its arms and surrendered to Israel to end the fighting. It could have allowed for a ceasefire and a return of the 134 Israeli hostages in these last few months. It could have allowed the aid and humanitarian convoys to reach the civilian population peacefully. It has not.

In all this, it’s become clear that Hamas’s Islamist fervor that preaches death to the last man, woman or child is an element the West refuses to understand. This week, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, we heard the same sentiment from dangerous radicals right here in Canada, threatening our national security, while our government stands by.

Interrogation videos of Hamas terrorists who participated in the killing of women and children on Oct. 7 shockingly reveal the banality in which Hamas terrorists murdered. Not dissimilar to the fervor demonstrated by Nazis to kill as many Jews as possible, in interrogation videos, Hamas soldiers hardly flinch when describing themselves raping women.

They have been taught to hate Jews with a religious fervor since birth. Their hatred was aided by Hamas-run camps for children, an education system funded by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and a closed society that lived and breathed a hatred for Israel. Biden should know this is the crux of the matter. Israel has been left with very little choice but to destroy an enemy that is cruel, religiously motivated and willing to put its own civilian population in harm’s way.

National Post

Avi Benlolo is the founder and CEO of The Abraham Global Peace Initiative.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/avi-benlolo-israel-cant-afford-to-let-hamas-win-no-matter-what-joe-biden-says

March 8, 2024

Human rights are women’s rights. International Women’s Day serves as a celebration of the rights, freedoms, and aspirations for equality held by all women. However, a disturbing exception emerged for Jewish women in the aftermath of the rapes and mutilations perpetrated by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.

The atrocities committed against young Jewish women, particularly at the Nova Music Festival, the adjacent highway (as they fled or hid), and at the nearby village (a Kibbutz) called Be’eri, represented the epitome of evil. The denial of these crimes provoked international campaigns, compelling Jewish women to re-enact the travesty in American cities, simply to get the attention of the world to recognize this truth.

Nearly six months after this tragic day, one of the most barbaric attacks since the Holocaust, the UN’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, having spent two weeks in Israel, finally released a scathing report on the heinous sexual crimes committed by Hamas against Israeli women on Oct. 7 and the days following, as hostages in Gaza.

I am one of those critics who argues that the response from the UN is deemed too little too late. UN Women, a United Nations organization, failed to condemn the sexual assaults in the weeks and months following the attack. Notably, the organization has yet to incorporate Patten's report on Jewish rapes into its website, despite acknowledging the toll on women in Gaza. The unsettling exclusion of Jewish women by UN Women raises concerns about the organization's commitment to addressing all instances of sexual violence impartially.

Still, the UN's press conference on the report's findings, is crucial for highlighting the sexual violence experienced by Israeli women. However, it’s release should have coincided with International Women’s Day. Instead, it occurred several days earlier, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, instrumental in condemning Israel even days after the Hamas assault, notably absent.

By withholding the report's findings on International Women’s Day, the United Nations once again downplayed the atrocities against Jewish women, perpetuating a double victimization of the rapes by not adequately acknowledging their plight. It's no wonder that Patten’s press conference saw sparse attendance.

Nevertheless, Patten's findings, powerful and significant, deserved attention. Her team's investigation revealed instances of rape and gang rape at the three locations, with victims subjected to sexual violence before their tragic deaths.

A concerning pattern of organized, systematic, and premeditated sexual violence across multiple locations was identified, indicative of intent and possible training by Hamas to weaponize sexual violence as part of its assault — a clear war crime. Victims were found either fully or partially undressed, bound, and shot, with evidence of sexualized torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

Patten highlighted severe violations at the Nova Music Festival site, including brutal mass murders, with several hundred bodies recovered and numerous abductions reported. Sexual violence was also committed against Israeli women taken hostage by Hamas to Gaza, where 134 Israelis, many of them young women, remain captive. Families continue to plead for their release, fearing sexual abuse by their captors.

Due to justified distrust in Israelis towards the United Nations, Patten couldn't interview rape survivors. Jewish women and Israel, however, do not require validation from Patten or a biased UN organization to recognize the atrocities. The UN General Assembly has yet to condemn Hamas for these heinous crimes.

Despite the shameful silence of women’s groups in the international community, Jewish women in Israel are reclaiming their voices. Recently, thousands joined together to sing "I am Titanium," defiantly standing up for each other, their daughters, and their families. They embody a beacon of hope, resilience, and strength for those who truly and honestly celebrate International Women’s Day.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/avi-benlolo-un-is-disturbingly-ambivalent-about-the-rape-of-israeli-women

March 1, 2024

When good people refuse silence, it makes a world of difference. Our sages have taught us that our freedom can never be taken for granted, and that the scales of justice are often so evenly weighted between good and bad that even a feather on one side of the scale or another can alter our world. Today, for those of us who fight to defend democracy, we are called to action to protect our way of life against savagery.

Many of those who say they fight for human rights, who stand up for women’s rights, for gay rights and for the rights offered by the constitutions of liberal democracy are undermining the fundamental values held sacred in the West.

Last week, in the Toronto Star, for instance, one columnist wrote a scathing condemnation of former prime minister Stephen Harper’s visit to Israel and his denunciation of Hamas: “Harper’s ahistorical and disingenuous framing … reflects the extent to which what we’re witnessing from the powerful is an attempt to promote a simplistic viewpoint of ‘good and bad.’”

From where I come from, there is, in fact, a simplistic view of right and wrong, sacred and profane, as well as good and bad. Hamas murdering innocent children and shooting them in the back is bad. Hamas raping and mutilating women, that’s bad. Hamas kidnapping people is bad. There are no ifs, ands or buts.

There are serious and severe efforts to wear down a value system primarily grounded in the Judeo-Christian beliefs ingrained in western civilization. Blurring the lines between terrorists by calling them “militants” or “combatants” is one prevalent method we can observe in the media today. This distortion is extraordinarily dangerous for our society because it undermines our fundamental principles of truth and justice.

When the truth is blurred, bent and denied, the very fabric of our democracy is put in jeopardy. But there was a strong glimmer of hope in reaction to my column last week. I had expressed defiance to denials and distortions of the truth, and in return, I received numerous letters from readers who unabashedly supported the Jewish community and Israel.

One person wrote, “I am so disappointed in our community here in Canada that you would need to write that. My grandparents, great uncles, etc. fought in WW2 and taught me that I have a special responsibility to Jewish people. 'Never again' was something I learned as a kid. I’m ashamed of what is happening….”

A more poignant denouncement of our society today came from a military of the military.

“As a 57-year-old Roman Catholic, who is finishing a career in the (Royal Canadian Air Force), please do not lump me in with the rest of the non-Jewish, hateful, morally bankrupt mob we see in the street or corridors of power in Ottawa," he wrote. 

"I will tell you that amongst my military colleagues, the opinion is clear. We understand rules and engagement, we understand the laws of conflict, and we sadly understand collateral damage. No military in the world, including our own, goes to ends that the (Israel Defense Forces do) to prevent civilian death. As I have said repeatedly over the last four months, I stand with you today and tomorrow, and the phrase NEVER AGAIN is for all humanity, not just Jews.”

It's important now more than ever to recognize that there are millions of citizens amongst us who “get it.” We see our left-leaning media give Palestinian terrorists a free pass and may think this sentiment represents Canadians. It does not. We see our own government waffle between support for Hamas and support for Israel and think it reflects public opinion. It does not. We see pro-Hamas mobs on our streets and university campuses waving Palestinian flags while calling for the genocide of the Jewish people and think everyone feels this way. They do not.

In fact, a recent Research Co. poll in British Columbia found that over 77 per cent of residents on Vancouver Island, 74 per cent in the Fraser Valley and 71 per cent in southern B.C. are concerned about rising antisemitism in Canada. Significantly, nearly two-thirds of the province's residents (64 per cent) agree with Canada’s decision to suspend funding for the United Nations Relief Works Agency after some of its staff were found to be complicit in terrorism.

A revelatory survey conducted earlier this month by the Harvard Center for American Political Studies and Harris Poll has found that 82 per cent of Americans support Israel in the conflict against Hamas. In January, the firms also found that an overwhelming 83 per cent of Americans say Oct. 7 was a terror attack. But if you listen to U.S. President Joe Biden in recent weeks, you will think that the tide is shifting against Israel. Nothing could be further from the truth. Contrary to Biden’s recent pronouncements, the January polling results even found that 67 per cent of Americans say a ceasefire should happen only if all hostages are freed and Hamas is removed from power.

When it comes to right and wrong, or good and bad, never listen to the street, political leaders or the media. If you want to preserve our free way of life and defend democracy, then listen to your heart.

National Post

Avi Abraham Benlolo is the founder and CEO of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/avi-benlolo-the-lefts-disingenuous-push-to-redeem-the-depraved-brutality-of-hamas

Israel's success stands as a testament to our ability to rise above the hate you give

Author of the article:Avi BenloloPublished Feb 23, 2024 

Dear World, enough with your slander and defamation.

We're fed up with your ghettos, crusades, inquisitions, and genocides. You were silent then, as you are now, when we're attacked, beaten, raped, and murdered. Your denial, distortion, and collaboration with those wishing us harm have become unbearable.

Despite our substantial contributions to society, you persist in attempting to marginalize and ostracize us, solely because we are Jewish. Take Leah Goldstein, for instance — a shining star, multiple award-winner, and the first female in Race Across America history to secure first place overall in the solo division. Yet, you disinvite her from speaking at a women’s event. Why? Because she defended Israel’s freedom and democracy and/or because she is Jewish?

World, your boundless hatred, particularly on the international stage, was evident just two weeks ago when you falsely accused us of genocide at the International Court of Justice. This, despite our right to self-defence against Palestinian murderers. Your quick condemnation sharply contrasts with your lethargic or nonexistent response to conflicts involving other nations. Where were you when Syria was obliterating 500,000 of its own people?

Throughout history, you have attempted everything to eradicate us. But in case you haven’t noticed, we've had enough, and we are fighting back. We are doing so in dignity and with this history in mind. Are you shocked that we, the supposedly weak and destitute that you have subjugated, have taken control of our destiny?

Your silence and complicity after the murder of our children and the rape of our women on Oct. 7 have given rise to a new generation. In case you haven’t noticed, our youth are proudly wearing the Jewish Star of David around their necks. We are strengthening our Zionism and commitment to the State of Israel. Unlike you, we are not afraid.

Discrimination against us is a daily occurrence — in the workplace, neighbourhoods, businesses, media, university campuses, unions, and the international arena. Yet, like Leah, we persevere, our heads held high, we focus on building a future. Israel's success stands as a testament to our ability to rise above the hate you give.

We care less about what you think. We will defend ourselves at the ICJ, fight back at the United Nations, in the media, and on university campuses. We will not allow your historic hate without pushing back. Rally in support of terror against us, call for our demise — adults who should know better about protecting their children should find that embarrassing.

This week, I walked the grounds of where the Nova Party was held where you slaughtered almost 300 of our best and brightest. Their ashes are seeped into the ground. It reminded me of the grounds of Auschwitz, Majdanek, Sobibor and dozens of death camps where we were also gassed and burned.

We've had enough of your shameful behavior, dear world. Our heads are held high despite your unfair attacks. Maybe you can learn something from Leah Goldstein's closing plea: "I hope that humans can learn to treat each other with respect and love."

National Post

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/avi-benlolo-we-jews-arent-going-anywhere-no-matter-how-much-you-hate-us

TEL AVIV — February 16, 2024

If there was ever a great example of “chutzpah,” it would be the recent American proposal to declare a Palestinian state in the middle of Israel’s ongoing battle to defend its very existence against Hamas. The fact of the matter is that even if Israel is successful in its campaign, it would leave the Palestinian Authority (PA) in power, and it is not all that much better than Hamas.

It’s true that the PA is not Hamas, but it's damn close. To this day, the PA still hasn’t condemned Hamas's massacre of 1,200 innocents on Oct. 7, 2023. The Ramallah-based "authority” also hasn’t demanded the return of the remaining hostages held by Hamas — even though Hamas also killed and kidnapped Bedouin Muslims.

Now, the United States — along with Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Qatar — is aiming to both recognize and declare a Palestinian state. Siding with monarchies that seek to quell anger over the Palestinian issue within their own populations, Israel’s greatest ally is working on a pipe dream to calm the waters.

There are six critical factors that negate the possibility of a so-called two-state solution at this time.

First and foremost, undertaking such an initiative just over four months after the biggest massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust disregards the pain and suffering experienced by Israelis. They are traumatized, and talk of peace, especially with the Palestinians, demonstrates insensitivity and will be met with resistance.

Second, Israel will not accept anything less than the complete and utter elimination of Hamas as a governing power or military threat in Gaza. U.S. President Joe Biden’s peace plan will reportedly seek an immediate, six-week ceasefire, which would allow Hamas to regroup. At the same time, he is discouraging Israel from entering Rafah, which is necessary in order to wipe out Hamas.

Third, Israelis are unified behind not only the elimination of Hamas, but also the return of the hostages and the bodies of those who have been murdered. Thousands of Israelis live in towns and small villages on the outskirts of Gaza. Having met with many of them, I can tell you that few will return home if their safety and security cannot be assured.

Fourth, the PA represents a significant threat to Israel. It knows how to play the diplomatic game, but its hatred of Israel runs deep. It spends over $300 million per year incentivizing its population to commit terror attacks against Israel. And the PA’s policy of compensating terrorists is only the tip of the iceberg.

Fifth, the Fatah-run pseudo-government is one of the most antisemitic on earth. Its curriculum is riddled with antisemitic tropes and teaches Palestinian youngsters that Jews are colonizers — when, in fact, they are indigenous to the Land of Israel.

And the biggest antisemite of all is PA President Mahmoud Abbas, who peddles in Holocaust distortion. A few weeks before the Hamas massacre, Abbas was criticized for saying, “They say that Hitler killed the Jews for being Jews, and that Europe hated the Jews because they were Jews. No. It was clearly explained that they fought them because of their social role and not their religion.”

Sixth, before working to establish a Palestinian state, the international community must dismantle corrupt aid agencies like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Some UNRWA staff were found to have participated in the Oct. 7 massacre.

And in Gaza this week, the Israel Defence Forces discovered a Hamas data centre operating under UNRWA’s headquarters and feeding off its electricity supply. One can only imagine what's taking place at UNRWA facilities in the PA-run West Bank.

As someone who has advocated for a two-state solution since Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the Oslo Accords on the White House lawn, it's clear to me that the creation of a Palestinian state at this time would be an existential threat to the Jewish state. Israel is currently operating in the West Bank to protect its civilians and prevent terror attacks. Palestinian independence would prevent Israel’s defensive measures.

America is Israel’s greatest friend and ally. Moving its Embassy to Jerusalem and brokering the Abraham Accords were some of its greatest accomplishments in recent years. Its continued military support for Israel during this war with Hamas has been an incredible show of friendship.

But this administration’s political pressures should not cloud its judgment vis-a-vis the Palestinians. They have proved they are simply not ready for statehood.

National Post

Avi Benlolo is the founder and CEO of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/bidens-foolhardy-plan-for-a-two-state-solution

The surge in antisemitism is a direct result of imported Palestinian propaganda aimed at delegitimizing, defaming, and demonizing Israel

Author of the article:Avi BenloloPublished Feb 02, 2024  

Gaza Schools spreading Hamas’ antisemitism grabbed international headlines this week, coupled with breaking news revealing that the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) had staff involved in the Oct. 7 massacre of Jews. There’s nothing groundbreaking here. We’ve been urging the Trudeau government for years to cease Canada’s complicity in terror and antisemitism.

But why focus on Gaza when we have similar issues in our own backyard? Canadian universities and now schools have long disseminated pro-Hamas antisemitism. This week at York University, the pro-Palestinian union released what it dubbed “a Toolkit on Teaching Palestine.”

A more fitting name for the 15-page pamphlet would have been “a toolkit for promoting antisemitism in the classroom.” Mislabelling the fight against the terrorist group Hamas as a “genocide” and referring to Jews indigenous to the land of Israel as “settler-colonial occupation,” the document aims to inject hatred against Jews into the classrooms at York University.

Why look as far as Gaza when it’s been imported into our universities? The pro-Hamas document even targets Hillel, an apolitical Jewish student organization, claiming that York University is complicit in Israel’s occupation due to its “economic and academic relationships with various Zionist cultural institutions (e.g., Hillel).”

While Zionism merely describes the Jewish liberation movement, here it is used pejoratively with contempt and clear antisemitic overtones. In response, the university’s president, Rhonda Lenton, penned a superficial non-letter, not even addressing the obvious false propaganda and antisemitism in the document.

The surge in antisemitism right here in Canada is a direct result of two decades of imported Palestinian propaganda aimed at delegitimizing, defaming, and demonizing the State of Israel. Shortly after the 2001 Durban conference, which borrowed the fake “Zionism is racism” Soviet propaganda for the Palestinian movement, university campuses initiated “Israeli apartheid week.”

For two decades or about four generations of Canadian and American students, lies about Israel and, by extension, the Jewish people have been propagated. UNRWA and the Palestinian education system in Gaza and the West Bank incite students to believe Jews are evil and that they are white (even though at least half are not) “colonizers” and “occupiers” of their own land.

We’ve now graduated millions of students who have been fed these atrocious lies. So why are Canadians surprised by the escalating incidents of antisemitism right here at home? The violence-promoting street demonstrations we’ve witnessed since Oct. 7 involve our university students who have been given permission by our universities and schools to believe these falsehoods.

Recently, it even came to light that in Toronto, the arrest of the so-called “Indigo 11” on hate-motivated mischief charges — turned out to be mostly of academics, many with PhDs and employed by universities, schools and cultural institutions. So while the world has rightly turned attention to the 12 UNRWA staff who participated in the Oct. 7 massacre, lets not turn a blind eye to the staff of our own academic and cultural institutions. We should all be asking ourselves if given the chance, they too would have lent Hamas a hand.

The Nazis perfected modern antisemitic propaganda, telling so many lies about the Jewish people that the majority of Germans and their allies came to believe them. They marginalized and ostracized the Jewish population by producing their own “toolkits” of lies and distortions, first in schools and universities and then in the general community.

The war against hate isn’t just in the Middle East; it’s right here in our backyard — in our universities, schools, unions, and community centers. The distortion about Israel and the Jewish people is so profound and ingrained in the psyche of the average Canadian that chants calling for the death of Jews hardly raise an eyebrow.

Nobody wants to hear the truth. University feminists eagerly march with Palestinians despite the repression of women in Gaza and the rapes against Israeli women. People who identify as part of the LGBTQ community give little thought to how quickly they would be attacked for their sexual orientation under Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. None of these realisms matter because this is Gaza.

I trust Israel’s enemies reading this column are reveling, just as the Nazis must have when Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary, and many others fell under their web of lies. History will judge those who have been taken for a ride by the forces of darkness. In the end, however, history has repeatedly shown that those who stand with the Jewish people are on the right side of history. We are the litmus test for what’s coming next. Think about it.

National Post

Avi Abraham Benlolo is the founder and CEO of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative.