Defending Our Future. Protecting Our Past.
Defending Our Future. Protecting Our Past.
July 26, 2024: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress this week was met with 26 standing ovations, showcasing his unparalleled ability to eloquently advocate for Israel and reinforce its indomitable bond with America. Despite his controversies, Netanyahu's capacity to inspire and mobilize support remains unmatched.
Those who stood in support did so out of firm conviction and integrity,
July 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
As we approach the UN-designated International Day for the Prevention of Violence against Women, it's disheartening to note the silence from women's groups on the horrifying rapes and assaults suffered by Jewish women at the hands of Hamas on Oct. 7. As a father of two girls, witnessing feminist groups treating these atrocities differently is deeply troubling. The undeniable atrocities and war crimes of Oct. 7 stand as a stark reality. Yet, for some, being born Jewish and an Israeli citizen seems to exempt you from the application of international law. Antisemitism trumps justice, even in the face of rape and murder. Shame befalls any human rights organization that fails to acknowledge these crimes.
Netanyahu gives necessary history lesson for Congress
by Avi Abraham Benlolo - Published July 26, 2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress this week was met with 26 standing ovations, showcasing his unparalleled ability to eloquently advocate for Israel and reinforce its indomitable bond with America. Despite his controversies, Netanyahu's capacity to inspire and mobilize support remains unmatched.
Approximately 40 members of Congress chose to boycott Netanyahu's address. Their absence spoke volumes about their alignment in the conflict with the Iranian-axis, rather than about Netanyahu or Israel. America's unwavering alliance with Israel, both staunch defenders of freedom and democracy, has endured for over 76 years.
Those who stood in support did so out of firm conviction and integrity, while those who remained silent or complicit in support of Hamas will be judged by history. The absent Congress members missed a critical opportunity to confront their biases, clouded by Palestinian-Hamas falsehoods or, worse, antisemitism. Netanyahu decisively confronted the denials, distortions, and complicity witnessed since the October 7th Hamas assault on Israel.
"Defeating our brutal enemies requires both courage and clarity. Clarity begins by knowing the difference between good and evil. Yet incredibly, many anti-Israel protesters choose to stand with evil. They stand with Hamas, rapists, and murderers. They stand with those who attacked kibbutzim and murdered entire families."
Netanyahu highlighted a stark truth we've been asserting for months: "When the tyrants of Tehran, who hang gays from cranes and murder women for not covering their hair, are praising and funding you, you have officially become Iran’s useful idiots." The propaganda is so deeply ingrained that even Iranian supporters of Israel cannot sway the "useful idiots."
Netanyahu's history lesson addressed the "malicious lies levelled for centuries at the Jewish people." These slanders, portraying Israel as racist and genocidal, aim to delegitimize the Jewish State and Jews worldwide, fueling the rise of antisemitism.
The truths that absent Congress members avoided are crucial. To them, antisemitism is "context dependent," and the declarations of biased international bodies supercede those of an ally combating terrorism. They buy into Hamas propaganda, ignoring Hamas's own admissions of using its population as human shields.
Netanyahu envisions a future where a new generation of Palestinians is taught to coexist peacefully with Israel. However, with Palestinian radicals emboldened by certain Congress members and university administrators, is peace truly attainable? Can Palestinians regain the trust of Israelis and the global Jewish community that once supported their independence efforts?
Healing this divide may take generations. The Abraham Accords brought new hope to the Middle East and should be reinvigorated. Netanyahu's proposal for an Abraham Alliance to bolster regional security against Iran could be transformative, providing a pathway for Palestinians to realize that their true enemy is radical Islam that seeks death and destruction rather than peace and prosperity alongside the Jewish State.
This article was published in the National Post on Friday July 26, 2024
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/avi-benlolo-netanyahu-gives-necessary-history-lesson-for-congress
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
November 24, 2023
In the realm of democracies, it appears that the cherished Judeo-Christian principles, foundational to many societies, have taken a backseat. The moral compass seems skewed, flipped by a self-destructive generation quick to label anyone they disagree with as racists or colonialists.
As we approach the UN-designated International Day for the Prevention of Violence against Women, it's disheartening to note the silence from women's groups on the horrifying rapes and assaults suffered by Jewish women at the hands of Hamas on Oct. 7. As a father of two girls, witnessing feminist groups treating these atrocities differently is deeply troubling.
Israel's First Lady, Michal Herzog, addressed this silence in a recent Newsweek article, condemning women's groups for not denouncing the heinous acts witnessed at the Nova music festival. Reports detailed Hamas terrorists engaging in gang rapes, murder, and mutilation of women. Shockingly, a video even captured terrorists torturing a pregnant woman and removing her fetus.
Despite ample video and physical evidence of these crimes, there is a deafening lack of condemnation. Herzog revealed that forensic scientists found evidence of women and girls subjected to violence so brutal that their pelvic bones were broken. Disturbing videos, such as those of young Israeli girls mistreated in Gaza, further highlight the gravity of the situation.
One perplexing aspect is the contradiction with Islamic teachings, which strictly prohibit rape and consider it haram (forbidden), imposing severe punishment on the perpetrator. Modesty, especially for women, is deemed sacred in Islam. The question arises: Why haven't Muslim groups condemned Hamas for these crimes? Is it because the victims were Jewish?
Notably, organizations like UN Women and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women have yet to denounce these rapes. Sadly, lessons from history remind us that denial and distortion are common tactics of antisemites. While not all feminists and leftists share these views, all antisemites invariably deny the truth.
Relying on organizations advocating for human rights to uphold truth and justice is increasingly challenging. Recent weeks have seen an alarming effort to suppress and deny the crimes committed by Hamas, as if they never occurred. That’s why I am now in Israel to collect as much evidence as possible — to safeguard the truth for the onslaught of denial that will undoubtedly hit us at the next fabricated “Israeli apartheid week” at your local campus.
It is disturbing the University of Alberta sexual assault center signed on to a letter that questioned whether these assaults happened, and underscores the gravity of the situation. Fortunately, the university swiftly dismissed the director, reaffirming its commitment to morals and ethics. The kind note from the Acting-Dean was appreciated, demonstrating there is still hope for our campuses.
The undeniable atrocities and war crimes of Oct. 7 stand as a stark reality. Yet, for some, being born Jewish and an Israeli citizen seems to exempt you from the application of international law. Antisemitism trumps justice, even in the face of rape and murder. Shame befalls any human rights organization that fails to acknowledge these crimes.
As we approach the International Day for the Prevention of Violence against Women, there's a final opportunity for these organizations to break their silence and stand against injustice. The time to act is now.
Avi Benlolo is the Founder and CEO of The Abraham Global Peace Initiative. You can learn more about it at www.agpiworld.com
AGPI Calls for dismantling of UNRWA
December 1, 2023 in the National Post
The lies, denials and innuendos about Israel distributed by United Nations and its affiliated agencies have long been outrageous. But this week, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reached a new low that illustrates its veracious appetite to take advantage of the war by spreading lies to raise money.
Yesterday, I received an email from Marta Malaspina, a member of UNRWA’s so-called Digital Fundraising Team. I could not believe that she wrote that the “ongoing war in Gaza comes after 75 years of continuous displacement and dispossession.” Nice wordsmithing, if only it were honest.
In reaction, I sent her the following note: “Hi Marta, I am baffled how someone seemingly educated like you can spread lies to raise a few dollars. I just received your email saying that 'the ongoing war in Gaza comes after 75 years of continuous displacement and dispossession.' No, Ms. Malaspina, it comes after the Hamas attack of October 7th in which Palestinians murdered 1,200 Jews in cold blood. Why can’t you be honest?"
Obviously, I continued, “We will expose these lies and encourage our own government in Canada to stop funding UNRWA because it’s not truthful. Your note again proves it in writing. So, your fundraising email, because it shows the true colours of UNRWA, will bring about the defunding of UNRWA.”
This is already happening. This week, after spending nearly $1 billion on UNRWA over the last five years, Germany announced it is freezing all funding.
“UNRWA is not making a contribution to a peaceful solution,” Max Lucks of Germany's Greens said. “Not a single cent from Germany should reach teachers who glorify the terror of Hamas.”
Similarly, the European Union has moved to withhold 39 million euros (C$58 million) from Palestinian groups, including from UNRWA. These NGOs are often accused of inciting hatred against Israel. The EU and other funders have demanded UNRWA and other agencies enforce contracts that require their schools and programs to be monitored. However, none of this has proven effective.
“The problem is that Israel actually needs UNRWA,” one highly-placed official in the organization told me in confidence WHEN WAS THIS?. UNRWA seems to believe serving Israel and the Palestinians themselves. They have our government convinced to the tune of $100 million in funding plus some additional emergency money.
I told the official that several years ago that my organization, the Abraham Global Peace Initiative, did try to reach out to UNRWA in the hope of finding a way to work together. But since that time, I expressed, “I can see now that UNRWA unfortunately, is holding the Palestinians themselves hostage.”
I explained to the UNRWA official that the organization itself, and its staff, unfortunately is spreading lies, and that this week’s fundraising letter is yet another example. UNRWA “is the only refugee organization in the world for one specific group (the Palestinians). Unlike other societies that promote co-existence and assimilation of refugees, UNRWA has not promoted integration into the societies in which Palestinians have moved." For some examples, see Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.
That means, I explained to the official, that UNRWA is the problem to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Therefore, there needs to be a completely new system that is organized to aid the Palestinians and provide humanitarian relief, but with an objective of developing a sustainable society.
A new internationally funded entity needs to push for growing cooperation instead of isolation and absorption of refugees into their current places of residence. Holding Palestinians prisoners in this false narrative that one day they might “return” is counterproductive. It builds anger and frustration and limits the vision for a bright future.
Additionally, UNRWA schools have been teaching anti-Israel and antisemitic materials while turning a blind eye when their schools become rocket bunkers for Hamas. The result is a vicious society that committed heinous crimes against innocent Israelis on Oct. 7. We need to hold UNRWA and its funders accountable for the crimes committed against the innocent Jews and foreigners who were murdered and kidnapped on that day.
Malaspina and her fundraising team at UNRWA had the audacity of disregarding the barbarism that took place on that black day. She called for “solidarity” with the Palestinians but not with the Jewish women who were raped and the Jewish children who were mutilated by the very people her agency supports.
This level of denial and distortion needs to be called out. Given these blatant facts, UNRWA must be removed from Gaza alongside Hamas. A new non-permanent humanitarian relief program must be created to build a new society that can co-exist peacefully with Israel. Anything else will be detrimental to both Palestinians and Israelis living in the region.
Avi Abraham Benlolo is the Founder and CEO of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative.
National Post
Author of the article:Avi BenloloPublished Jan 19, 2024
This week in North America, we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day. For those of us who grew up in the “old world” following the Second World War, the establishment of human rights norms based on foundational Judeo-Christian principles in the West of freedom, civil rights, and democracy—the values that MLK espoused—seems like a distant memory.
The moral compass established following the Holocaust and with respect to the civil rights movement, which was enthusiastically supported by the Jewish community standing with MLK, is being decimated by educators, demonstrators, and even political leaders attempting to establish a new world order, flipping the West’s foundational principles on their head.
Our own Director of Education at The Abraham Global Peace Initiative, Dr. Neil Orlowsky, working within the educational institutional framework, expressed, “We are not dealing with rational people. We are dealing with woke, entitled youth who are blind to their own antisemitism.”
The truth is also that our situation is far worse than spoiled youth who are being mistaught in schools and allowed to march out of class in support of Hamas. It’s time for the grown-ups in our communities to take back our cities that are being hijacked by people bringing hate into our communities. In this, I am thrilled and respect Toronto Police for stepping up to protect the Jewish community.
This might sound old-fashioned, but it is hard to find people like MLK and Elie Wiesel drawing lines in the sand against, for example, the pro-Hamas demonstrators on our streets calling for the eradication of the Jewish State. MLK himself unequivocally said that “peace for Israel means security, and we must stand with all our might to protect its right to exist.” But no one “woke” in the education system these days dare repeat these words.
Raoul Wallenberg, whom as Canadians we honoured this week as part of an annual day of commemoration of his legacy, would be livid seeing how some of our schools are allowing students to set up boycott campaigns against Israel, the embodiment of the Jewish people. What good was it for our nation to have made him an honorary citizen if our political leaders fail to realize their hypocrisy? Every nation is allowed to defend itself except for the Jews.
We are in an existential crisis brought on by a radical ideology operating on our streets. Here are several recommendations that might turn back the clock to the days when morality and respect were part of our social fabric:
First, while we must defend the right to demonstrate in a democracy, there must be limits where public safety and security are at stake. Disallow protests that call for the genocide of the Jewish people and side with terror-designated groups like Hamas. Arrest anyone who is intimidating communities.
Second, the federal government must update its terror-designated group list and strengthen measures that allow for criminal charges to be laid with sympathizers. In the UK this week, for example, Home Secretary James Cleverly announced that Hizb ut-Tahrir is a terrorist group and that it could no longer organize rallies and demonstrations. At the European Union, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been added to the terrorist list. The United States just announced that the Houthis have been designated a terrorist organization. In Canada, we should be adding the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps to our terror organization list.
Third, we must immediately and without delay update how we prosecute hate speech and hate crime. We must give law enforcement the tools they require to maintain law and order. For example, police must be able to immediately lay charges on the scene, with pending consent by the Attorney General.
Fourth, our schools, including universities, must be depoliticized, especially of extremism. They have become warzones that mirror armed conflicts 10,000 miles away. Politicization by the majority-body students is leading to radical indoctrination and distracting students from learning.
Fifth, we need to stand with our friends and allies. Few disagree that Canada has lost its standing in foreign affairs. Canada’s wavering support of its greatest democratic ally in the Middle East (Israel) is frightening. Our leaders are actually on the fence about the fabricated “genocide” charges levelled against Israel by South Africa. They cannot choose between standing alongside their friend (Israel) or with a terrorist group (Hamas).
Finally, we must strive to create a national identity. Without one, we are weak and exposed to both internal and external influence that may not reflect our character. We no longer speak about preserving freedom and democracy. We care not about our national security, as made clear by the possible admittance of Hamas sympathizers into our nation.
It is not too late for us, but for most of us who grew up here, we long for our Canada that was safe and secure. We long for our Canada whose citizens were respectful of one another. Where no one raged on our streets calling for our death or burning down our stores. We long for a Canada that stands for freedom and democracy and distinguishes friend from foe. We need to get back to our grounding — to our foundational principles and the values we cherished. Not this.
National Post
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/avi-benlolo-the-hatred-must-stop-a-new-roadmap-for-canada
February 24, 2023: As we come to the end of another week, our education team has been in consultation with both the York Region District School Board, the Toronto District School Board and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation provincial and local District 12 (Toronto) given professional training. Following the OSSTF D-12 anti-Palestinian Racism workshop, our educators raised concerns that member-funded professional development opportunities were providing revisionist versions of Israeli-Palestinian history and at times, completely erased Jewish indigeneity from the Middle East. As such, we are happy that since reaching out to both the TDSB and OSSTF, an investigation has initiated into possible policy and procedure and practice violations. We look forward to continuing this conversation with the Ontario College of Teachers in the coming weeks.
Members of the AGPI Education team were also on hand in the discussion of an anti-Israel and anti-Semitic slide that was shared at a YRDSB Elementary Math PD Session. Going seemingly viral, an image that was alleged used from a non-board website posing the inquiry question “I wonder if the United States defunded the Israeli military, how could this money be used to rebuild Palestine created a lot of discomfort and harm to educators in the room that the board was contacted to investigate. AGPI was happy to understand that the board immediately removed the hyperlink to said organization, issued a board-wide public apology, and committed to further investigate. We thank the YRDSB for the proactive measures they took.
As our AGPI educators continue preparing for several school-based training sessions we have already book, we would like to invite educators interested in bringing the Power of One Human Rights Exhibit or to book a student-centric, class or school-wide Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity, Diversity, Anti-Racism and Equity activity to your school, to contact our Director of Education, Dr Neil Orlowsky at norlowsky@agpi.ca.
October 7, 2022
ATTN: Ms Vicki Kim
Principal, Carmel Valley Middle School
Cc: Assistant Principal Mr Nathan Molina
Dear Principal Lam and Assistant Principal Molina,
It is with great concern that I write this letter in response to a teacher at your school who recently made headlines for allegedly praising Adolf Hitler's leadership qualities via an in-class activity. In recent years I have had to reach out to several schools and school districts across North America that encountered similar instances whereby teachers have either incorrectly or inappropriately examined the techniques used by Adolf Hitler in rallying much of Europe to commit one of the most heinous acts imaginable.
So often I've had my students ask how Hitler did it, similar to the situation encountered in Todd Strausser’s book, The Wave. Like any good educator, I turned to the list of leadership qualities that I myself learned about when becoming a school administrator. The issue however is that this list looks at sterile traits, disconnected from context. As such, many educators focus on charisma and one’s ability to deliver passionate, emotionally driven speeches, not what those speeches rally a people to do. One only need turn to Leni Riefenstahl’s Triumph of the Will to see how Hitler’s message differed greatly from MLK’s. As such, many fail to understand the connection between great power and great responsibility.
For over two decades I taught social studies. Examining this whiteboard display, I understand how students are meant to engage in both geographic and historical thinking. As an educator, there is evidence that this activity and display were meant to drive inquiry and foster a sense of exploration; however, what it fails to do is distinguish between good and evil. How do the leadership qualities embodied by MLK differ from those of Adolf Hitler? So too, how might those qualities differ from Mussolini, Stalin, Pasha, Pol Pot or Hirohito? Without the appropriate guidance, one can conclude that all those depicted in this activity are equally “Great” leaders, though “Great” is a contentious term. Having failed to draw this distinction trivializes the Holocaust and the death of six million Jews and countless Americans who lost their lives fighting the Third Reich.
As Director of Education with the Abraham Global Peace Initiative, my team and I would love to work with your school to co-create sound programming that centres the students' and their families lived experiences in the curriculum. Our Power of One Human Rights Exhibit deals with the exact lesson, “What Makes a Great Leader”, and we would be happy to schedule the exhibit along with one of our educators to come to your school and help restore bridges that might have been broken.
I look forward to speaking with you further.
Sincerely,
Neil Orlowsky, OCT, MEd., PhD.
Director of Education
The Abraham Global Peace Initiative
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
September 23, 2022
On Tuesday, several York Region District School Board staff reached out to AGPI regarding a list of two upcoming virtual training dates scheduled for Brief Intervention for School Clinicians (BRISC) training for school-based mental health professionals through School Mental Health Ontario. After reviewing the listed dates and listening to their concerns, Dr Orlowsky reached out to Student Mental Health Ontario as these professional training events were scheduled for Rosh Hashanah and Simchat Torah.
While we were informed that these training sessions aligned with the availability of their trainers, AGPI informed them that staff are being asked to choose between attending professional development and the needed support for their students or observing the holiest days for their faith. AGPI was happy to hear that alternative dates have been offered to accommodate staff.
Following last week’s motion to indefinitely suspend discussions and a vote by the York Region District Board Trustees to ratify a vote to adopt IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism, Aurora High School became YRDSB’s first school this year to report an incident of antisemitic graffiti in a classroom. While the school went through all the appropriate measures to address this incident, Aurora High School has a long and troubled history of antisemitism in their school. In conversation with the school administration, Dr Orlowsky reminded them of the importance of ensuring this incident is reported in the YRDSB RESOLVE reporting tool that tracks all hate-motivated incidents and whose data we, AGPI, use to understand, review, and suggest future educational policies.
AGPI will continue to be in discussion with the school board to ensure that YRDSB remains dedicated to dismantling antisemitism as they have been with other forms of hate and discrimination.
In rounding out our advocacy work, several teachers from the Ottawa Carleton District School Board informed AGPI of the newly launched OCDSB Cares App. Yet, in the wake of increasing reports around veiled antisemitism and the decentring of Jewish experiences within the board, the board seemingly failed to include Jewish students as one of their “Essential Supports” within the App. In seeking further information as to why the Jewish voices and supports were absent, we were happy to hear that the Ottawa Carleton District School Board has now revised their list of essential student supports to include Jewish Family Services contact information.
While remaining in constant communication with boards of education and stakeholders was one key aspect of last week’s work, AGPI was proud to partner with St Vincent Catholic Elementary School in the HCDSB to launch our Power of One Human Rights Exhibit during their Terry Fox events. While students were taken through the display and staff had access to our educational programming, we were happy to be in conversation with the school council who also wanted the exhibit showcased during their community barbeque.
We thank the staff and administration from St. Vincent Catholic Elementary School and look forward to a continued partnership throughout this year and in the years to follow. The Power of One Human Rights Exhibit remains one of our top educational priorities and we are happy to announce that it is now fully booked for the remainder of this calendar year. As the exhibit travels between schools and the country, we look forward to building greater, student-centric programming that helps amplify the role and importance of the upstander mindsets. If you are interested in booking the exhibit, please reach out to Dr Orlowsky atnorlowsky@agpi.ca
As we move into the high holidays, educators, educational stakeholders, and the larger community must continue to advocate for greater inclusivity of all bodies in all equity work. Sadly, it seems that education has siloed racialized and marginalized bodies and in efforts to create a more inclusive environment, inadvertently created an environment that is equitable only for some. Nevertheless, while it has been a week of hearing apologies, AGPI is happy that every institution we spoke with, acknowledged their scheduling error and has taken the appropriate steps and measures to ensure this does not happen again.
September 22, 2024
Rising Antisemitism, Failures to Adopt IHRA, and Education
It has been a trying week in the education system in the fight to combat and dismantle the institutionalization of antisemitism. As academic institutions across North America remain plagued by campaigns to intimidate, harass, and discriminate against Jewish students on college campuses (as seen at CUNY, the University of California, and the University of Vermont), Jewish faculty at the newly renamed Toronto Metropolitan University are indirectly being asked to choose between their job and observing their religion.
In conversation with several Jewish faculty at TMU, Dr Neil Orlowsky, AGPI’s Director of Education was informed that the University’s monthly Senate meeting would be held on Kol Nidre. While Senate meeting dates are advertised to faculty well in advance, Jewish faculty had formally requested that given the nature of this holiday, a religious accommodation should be made to postpone or reschedule Senate. In the Senate's reply to the request, they issued a statement noting that meetings are typically on the first Tuesday of the month which is their standard schedule. “The October meeting will be a very light agenda and we are committed to completing Senate before sunset and members also have the option of attending virtually. In consultation, this was determined to be a reasonable accommodation and recognition.”
Earlier this week, the York Region District School Board Trustees met to ratify their August 30th vote on adopting IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism. As noted in AGPI’s press release (September 13, 2022) while Dr Orlowsky presented several supporting documents of precedence set by other school board trustee councils, as well as provincial and federal statements and bills of support, trustees voted to “indefinitely suspend discussion on adopting IHRA” claiming the board already has a definition of antisemitism (though predating Canada’s adoption of IHRA); that IHRA’s definition is too controversial and sensitive, and as one trustee noted, “after Googling antisemitism”, she has a good sense of what it is. Adding to this, in concerns that the Board might be reactive, one trustee alluded to whether we (YRDSB) need IHRA since the population of Jews in YRDSB is so low, and this year’s increase in school-based anti-Jewish hate might just be an anomaly. In a vote of 11-2 in opposition to adopting IHRA, board trustees failed to recognize Thornhill is the largest diaspora of Jews in Canada and, recognize how not having an updated, consistent definition of antisemitism that aligns with other school boards, our Province, and our Country fails to protect Jewish students from bias, questions of their identity, their history and indigeneity in the Middle East, and freedom of expression. While we respect the democratic process, AGPI will continue to advocate for stronger, safer, and more inclusive learning environments, that include Jewish students who, over the last twelve months, have been witness to antisemitic graffiti in bathrooms and hallways, class colleagues performing the Nazi salute or shouting Heil Hitler, goose-stepping into assemblies on antisemitism, and in one school, had classmates download and allegedly recite sections of Mien Kampf to each other.
As more academic institutions sidestep the inclusion of Jewish students and their unique experiences in their equitable policies, one message rings consistently: Hate has no place in schools. While Dr Orlowsky continues meeting with, and speaking with Directors of Education and the Ministry of Education, the Ontario College of Teachers, and the Ontario Principal Council, AGPI is proud to announce that our Power of One Human Rights Exhibit is now fully booked until the end of this calendar year. While boards reflect on what antisemitism looks like, schools in the TDSB, YRDSB, the HCDSB, as well as the Bialik Hebrew Day School have taken the initiative and partnered with AGPI to provide student-centric and age-appropriate EDI workshops for students at the elementary and secondary levels through our Power of One program. If you would like to book our exhibit, please contact Dr Orlowsky at norlowsky@agpi.ca. In addition to this, AGPI is proud to announce that the York University Faculty of Education has officially recognized AGPI as a community partner and has assigned two outstanding Teacher Candidates to learn from and work with Dr Orlowsky and our education team. We welcome this announcement by the faculty and look forward to mentoring the next generation of teachers in Ontario.
June 24, 2022
As the school year comes to an end, our educational team would like to recognize and thank all our educational partners and allies who opened schools and classrooms to AGPI and provided a space for AGPI’s Director of Education, Dr Neil Orlowsky, to share our message that the Power of One begins with upstanders. Education has been a key focus of AGPI and given the rise in antisemitism, anti-Zionism, and anti-Jewish hate, we look forward to expanding our reach and empowering more students, in more countries with the tools to recognize hate and dismantle all forms of inequity, no matter one’s race, religion, creed or colour.
AGPI would also like to recognize the many boards of education and school administrators who identified gaps in their learning and invited us in as a trusted partner to provide professional development and student workshops. This year, Dr Orlowsky worked with hundreds of GTHA students, as well as students in the Winnipeg School Division, listening to their stories about how their communities witness and internalize racism, discrimination, and intolerance. From these stories and experiences, Dr Orlowsky has repeatedly met with board trustees, superintendents, and other Directors of Education to advocate for stronger and more inclusive board-wide policies that authentically tackle the growing risk of ethnic, cultural, racial, and/or religious marginalization within curricular content, educational spaces, and more detrimental to student well-being, within their class discussions.
So too, AGPI has publicly weighed in on the rise in the antisemitic incidents with K-12 schools as well as those on Canadian campuses and will continue to work with media outlets to ensure that focus is not solely placed on the TDSB. From students goosestepping across athletic fields in the north school boards to anti-Israel walkouts in the York, Toronto, and Ottawa-Carlton, the distortion of the Holocaust and demonization of Israel is something we will not stand for. We commend the boards who have taken steps to remove antisemitic texts from their schools but worry about the growing trend of using social justice, EDI, and liberatory education for (a) shielding genocidal sloganeering, (b) giving rise to revisionist history and acceptance of distorted facts, and (c) veiling the fermenting bias that is perpetuating nuanced racism by questioning or the erasure of Jewish indigeneity from the Middle East and North African region. In so doing, we will continue to share this concern with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, the Ontario College of Teachers, the Ontario Teachers Federation, ETFO, OSSTF, the Ontario Principals Council, and the 70+ school boards in Ontario.
While June brings the end of the school year, Dr Orlowsky and his team have already begun working on our 2022-2023 programming, booking our Power of One in schools across North America, and developing more student-centric learning opportunities. If you are interested in getting involved, becoming an educational ambassador, or having our educational team in your school, please contact norlowsky@agpi.ca.
June 10, 2022:
Over the last two weeks, our education department has been working tirelessly to further our mandate of advancing human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. Director of Education, Dr Neil Orlowsky launched our Power of One Human Rights Exhibit at Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary School in Milton (HCDSB), followed by AGPI and our Power of One exhibit being one of the showcased organizations and display’s at the Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education provincial conference. In his keynote address,
Dr Orlowsky focussed on the message of Abraham’s Tent, and how we in education can build sustainable bridges between faiths, communities, and cultures. AGPI would like to thank the hundreds of Ontario Catholic Teachers, Parents and Political Stakeholders that stopped by our booth and experienced our exhibit. So too, AGPI would like to thank the outstanding staff and students at both Forest Hill Collegiate Institute in Toronto (TDSB) and Marshal McLuhan Catholic Secondary School (TCDSB) for helping us launch our Power of One in their schools and for making it an experiential learning opportunity for their Grade 10 History and Civics classes, Grade 11 Social Justice classes, and various English and Philosophy classes. We cannot do anything without our amazing school and community partners and would also like to recognize the students who have used our exhibit to engage in, and further advocate for stronger inclusivity, equity, and community building in their schools, and beyond.
Sadly, the last few weeks have also brought meetings and concerns around the rise of antisemitism, anti-Jewish hate, and anti-Zionism across GTHA school boards. Dr Orlowsky started June meeting with various school administrators and superintendents from the Peel District School Board to raise further awareness around Joe Sacco’s graphic novel “Palestine” that has remained in their library stacks while being reviewed for conflating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, for a promoting a misogynistic and rape culture, and for celebrating the death of Jews. We look forward to continued conversations with the school board and providing further guidance and resources on the dangers of misinformation and the distortion of history.
While the Toronto District School Board is often in the news for the frequency of antisemitic incidents in their buildings, Dr Orlowsky has spoken with representatives from the Ottawa-Carlton School Board following a scathing article about their actions towards antisemitism, and the York Region District School Board following three separate antisemitic incidents in their schools this week. While representatives from the YRDSB deny Dr Orlowsky's claim that “Jews don't feel safe in their schools,” AGPI continues to document and share reports of the dangers Jewish students endear in school. We call on all school boards in Ontario to make all hate-motivated incident data public and to recognize that equity strategies are not necessarily as inclusive as first thought.
“We recognize that antisemitism is not the only hate that students encounter and we (AGPI) use that position as a springboard to engage in conversations around all ‘isms students witness,” said Dr Orlowsky. “We recognize that for many students across this province, the Holocaust is not their history and sadly for many, it is just a chapter in their textbook. That said, antisemitism is not anti-Black racism and vice versa. So too, neither are founded in anti-Asian or anti-Indigenous hate. Each manifestation of hate is unique and must be understood and tackled as such. Yes, there are overlaps and internalization may be similar but entry points and evolution differ. To develop one overarching policy around inclusivity is a failure in recognizing the uniqueness of our students, their pathways, and their identities. We need to do better and not just say that we are.”
As this school year ends we look forward to developing additional school-based workshops, in-class programming, and further opportunities to book our Power of One Human Rights Exhibit. For more information on these opportunities, please contact norlowsky@agpi.ca
Empower through Education, Empower through Engagement
Education Update: May 13, 2022
This week our education department crisscrossed the city, amplifying the Power of One message, and collaborated with schools on how to recognize and combat hate of all forms.
AGPI wants to thank North Toronto Collegiate Institute in the TDSB for hosting the Power of
One in their school and displaying it during intermission at the Maytime Melodies Music night. Over two nights, parents and community members walked through our exhibit, commenting on the positive message, the empowerment aspects of this piece, and the need for this exhibit in our schools. Dr Neil Orlowsky, AGPI Director of Education, caught up with Canadian MP Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth at the event and spoke with her about the Power of One, AGPI as an organization, and our push for greater Human Rights education. “So often our teachers and elected officials tell students that they are the future but fail to bring them into the conversation. Politicians and school boards draft equity and anti-racism policies that affect the students’ daily lives, but implementation falls short because those they are meant to serve, are never centred, consulted, or partnered with. We want to change that, and this exhibit is the first step” said Dr Orlowsky. AGPI looks forward to continuing this conversation with MP Ien.
With a mission to provide meaningful learning opportunities for students that are authentic, student-centric, and contextualized in their lives, this week, students from North Toronto Collegiate Institute worked with our curriculum and thought about the influence one’s community has in shaping global issues. Following consultation with teachers, our education team adapted our Greta Thunberg Climate Action programming for their Spanish classes and worked with the Modern Language Department Head to co-create a lesson that drew on youth activism, the climate movement in Spain and how those intersected events during COP25: The 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
But our educational focus is more than just the Power of One and this week Dr Orlowsky and Danielle Legerman were invited to Stephen Lewis Secondary School (SLSS) in the York Region DSB to present the first three of six workshops to their Grade 10 Canadian History Classes. Over one day, SLSS students reflected on what tools are needed to recognize hate and used those to identify strategies that could help dismantle it. Using a lens of antisemitism, three classes came to understand that while hate, racism, discrimination, and intolerance all hurt communities and are harmful to the overall school culture, the roots of hate are not equal, nor is how it is equally internalized within already racialized and marginalized communities. “While we need to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, and others, a one-size fits all approach is not what is needed and destined to fail,” said Dr Orlowsky.
Building on that message, students looked at the history of, and what Dr Orlowsky calls the three incarnations of antisemitism, before working with students on recognizing the two poles (left-wing extremism vs right-wing fundamentalism) of hate and what that looks like today if applied to a horseshoe. Dr Orlowsky and Ms Legerman look forward to returning to Stephen Lewis SS next week and look to continuing this work with other students and staff in other schools, other boards, and across all levels of education. For more information on our educational programming or to book a workshop, contact Dr Orlowsky at norlowsky@agpi.ca.
Are Schools Facing Copycat Antisemitism?
03/11/22: It has been a difficult start to the calendar year for both school boards and the Jewish community as Toronto parents were rattled with seven antisemitic incidents in just over one month. As March brought an additionally three reports of antisemitic graffiti to the exterior of three TDSB schools, AGPI was pleased to speak with Jim Spyropoulos, TDSB Executive Superintendent for Human Rights and Indigenous Education, and looks forward to meeting with him as well as the Superintendent Equity, Anti-Oppression & Early-Year; the Centrally Assigned Principal for Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression, and TDSB’s chair of the Jewish heritage committee later this month.
But this brings to question whether schools are facing an onslaught of copycat incidents or historical ignorance and shortfalls in our education system? In what appears to be more of the same in GTHA schools, this week saw three schools in Newmarket (York Region District School Board) reported disturbing antisemitic and anti-black incidents. Police and YRDSB officials are investigating reports that over two days, images of a swastika and the N-word were etched in washroom stalls at Newmarket High School and Huron Heights Secondary School, while a swastika was drawn on an interior door at Glen Cedar Public School.
Following these incidents, Dr Neil Orlowsky, AGPI’s Director of Education has again reached out to YRDSB Senior Staff, offering our help and aid in the board’s development of meaningful and broad-based equity training. In his correspondence with the board, AGPI has been assured that the Inclusive School and Community Services will continue to work closely with local (those in Newmarket) organizations and that during this time the board commits to remaining transparent and providing support for students. But as Miguelo Licinio, YRDSB senior manager of corporate communications stated that “While these incidents are very upsetting, they are occurring in a school board that is explicitly committed to championing equity and inclusivity”.
As a twenty-two-year veteran of the YRDSB, Dr Orlowsky has been critical of board policies on equity and inclusivity, given the rise of racism, discrimination, and repeated incidents of antisemitism. “While boards repeatedly talk of equity work being had at the macro, system level, incidents at the school level increase. What does inclusivity look like and what is actually being done? I believe boards are committed to dismantling all the ‘isms that they are faced with, I just don’t think they authentically recognize that a one size fits all approach is not the answer. Antisemitism is not anti-Black racism, nor is it Islamophobia, anti-Asian, or anti-2S-LGBTQ+ hate. Each of these acts are different; manifest differently and have different entry points and intersect our society in their own unique ways.” AGPI looks forward to continuing our discussion with YRDSB and hope that these three incidents are isolated.
Following the release of our Antisemitism on Campus report, AGPI was pleased to be in contact with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities where we shared our concerns regarding the rise of antisemitism on campus and the past vote by the UTGSU and recent vote by UTSU to adopt a BDS campaign. Dr Orlowsky will be meeting with the Ministry later this month and looks forward to again sharing our concerns but also proposing meaningful solutions which honour Bill 168, Combating Antisemitism Act, 2020, Bill 202, Standing Up Against Anti-Semitism in Ontario Act, 2016, and Bill 67, Racial Equity in the Education System Act, 2021.
By Neil Orlowsky February 25, 2022
True champions of diversity, equity, and inclusivity are not giving up creating safe, brave, and inclusive spaces for all. This past Wednesday, on Pink Shirt Day, a day to mark a fight to end bullying, AGPI’s Director of Education, Dr Neil Orlowsky was invited to speak with 16 iDARE (Inclusivity, Diversity, Anti-Racism, Equity) student leaders across grades 4 – 8, from the Queen of Heaven Catholic School in Halton. With a message of the Power of One, this student-centric training event discussed how our youth are the upstanders our world needs.
Empowered with the words that they can make a difference, and by providing the examples and tools on what that looks like in their community, the path to peace is not created in ivory towers, but in lunchrooms, classrooms, and schools around the world. AGPI looks forward to working with the Queen of Heaven school next week as they host our Power of One human rights exhibit.
But this has been a trying month for true champions of equity and inclusivity in the GTHA. With numerous antisemitic incidents in Toronto elementary schools, ranging from swastika graffiti to students giving the “Hitler salute” and yelling “Heil Hitler” in class while targeting a Jewish teacher in the process, to anti-black racist graffiti appearing during Black History Month events. As Colleen Russel-Rawlins, Director of Education at the TDSB noted in the wake of the third incident, “we must interrupt and confront racism, discrimination and hate, in all of its forms, we see or hear it.”
Dr Neil Orlowsky, AGPIs Directory of Education has reached out to all three schools, as well as Director Russel-Rawlins to offer our support in PD staff training and in hopes to further amplify how antisemitism is manifesting within their schools. Sadly, we were informed that a fourth incident of antisemitism, occurred in another TDSB school yesterday when two 12-year-old students performed the “Heil Hitler” salute to a supply teacher. This marks the third time students performed the salute this month.
Academic institutions from elementary to post-secondary have recently, and increasingly been plagued by critical thinking that is anything but. Ideological indoctrination is happening in the classrooms by decentring the Jewish experience to the erasure of Jewish history and attachment to the land. More so, in the wake of the third TDSB attack, some educators, via their personal social media, have alluded to, liked, reshared, and loosely defended the students’ attack, blaming the Jewish teacher, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, for implicitly and unconsciously creating an unsafe and uncomfortable learning environment for these students because of her Jewishness. Dr Orlowsky has again reached out to the Ontario College of Teachers in renewed calls to create a Professional Advisory on Antisemitism, as AGPI had proposed last month.
This third and now fourth TDSB incident of antisemitism comes on the heels of two notable events at the University of Toronto. In an announcement, the University of Toronto publicly stated that they are “…profoundly opposed to antisemitism. We're determined to ensure our campuses are places where members of the Jewish community feel that they are safe, included & respected as members & friends of the UofT community.” This statement followed UofT’s complete acceptance of all recommendations of the antisemitism working group to tackle antisemitism and religious discrimination on campus. However, later that day, the University of Toronto Undergraduate Student Union voted to endorse a BDS motion so vaguely worded that, depending on how it’s interpreted, could potentially lead to the boycotting of Jewish businesses. A similar vote occurred late last year when the Graduate Students Union attempted to support BDS which in turn led to concerns over the availability of kosher food on campus for Jewish Students. Following the passing of the recent motion, AGPI reached out to MPP Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities, pushing her to revoke allocated funding for all Ontario funded universities for violating Bill 202, Standing Up Against Antisemitism in Ontario Act (2016), by supporting the BDS campaign.
As noted in the bill, "The international boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement is one of the main vehicles for spreading antisemitism and the delegitimization of Israel globally and is increasingly promoted on university campuses in Ontario. The BDS movement violates the principle of academic freedom and promotes a climate of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel speech leading to intimidation and violence on campuses. The BDS movement's agenda is inherently antithetical to and deeply damaging to peace in the Middle East." We look forward to continuing our dialogue with the MPP and hope to work with the Universities and Colleges to help them create spaces for dialogue and to better understand how antisemitism is garnering support on campus.
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