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PRESS RELEASE

Toronto, ON, November 22, 2024– Avi Abraham Benlolo, a prominent Canadian Jewish leader, human rights advocate and founder and CEO of The Abraham Global Peace Initiative (AGPI), has secured a significant legal victory against the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has dismissed CUPW’s defamation claim against him with costs.  The decision affirmed that Mr. Benlolo expressed his honestly held views as he was entitled to do.

“This is an important vindication of the right to engage in debate and express honestly held views,” said Avi Benlolo.  “This is an important victory for me and one that will be meaningful for the Jewish community.  It was a long journey, but throughout it all, I was surrounded by an incredible legal team from McCarthy’s – Paul Steep and Christine Lonsdale – and by my good friend, Mark Teitelbaum.”

The lawsuit arose from comments made by Mr. Benlolo and co-defendant Jerry Agar in July of 2014 regarding CUPW’s participation in a demonstration. Justice Mew, presiding over the case, determined that the comments were protected under the defence of fair comment. 

Justice Mew observed: 

“The comments made by Mr. Agar and Mr. Benlolo concerning CUPW’s support for terrorist groups, its siding and partnering up with a hate group like Hamas and questioning whether to differentiate between supporting ordinary Palestinians and supporting Hamas, were statements of opinion.”

The court concluded that both defendants had an honest belief in the opinions they expressed and acted without malice. 

In his judgment, Justice Mew also commented on the broader context of the case: 

“The conflict in the Middle East is a subject that generates passionate views, not all of which are expressed respectfully or in temperate language. Sadly, that remains the case over ten years after the words that are the subject of this case were spoken or written. It is a debate which the plaintiff and the individual defendants have engaged in from very different perspectives. On the one hand, CUPW is a harsh critic of the media and its representation of events in the Middle East. On the other, Mr. Agar and Mr. Benlolo deplore aspects of the Union’s activism.”

This case underscores the importance of protecting free speech and the right to express opinions on matters of public interest in a democratic society.

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The Abraham Global Peace Initiative stands resolutely in defence of truth, justice, and the principles of democracy. We will continue to advocate for fair and impartial international justice, opposing all attempts to delegitimize Israel’s right to exist and defend itself.

For media inquiries, please contact: media@agpi.ca