Canada dodges bullet as gunmen massacre Jews on beach in Australia

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This is what they meant by using the slogan, “Globalize the intifada.”

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They meant what was written on their signs and in their chants. In Australia, they didn’t take it seriously and now many Jews are dead. Canada is fortunate this did not happen here — and needs to prepare for the possibility it still could.

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Often masked-up and difficult to identify,  local pro-Hamas protesters, who condone –or even celebrate — the slaughter of Jews, have not exactly hidden their agenda.

They express it every week.

Hanukkah horror

Now that this Hanukkah horror has happened in Australia – a pair of gunmen killed at least 11 and wounded many more on Bondi Beach in Sydney – what is Canada going to do to stop the escalation of antisemitism?

Judging from what they haven’t done since Oct. 7 2023, there is reason to be skeptical that much will happen.

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Toronto Police Sunday morning said they are enhancing their deployments in Jewish neighbourhoods. This is appropriate and necessary. Much should happen. As we head into Hannukah in the GTA, our Jewish community must be protected.

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Unlike Australia, which did not seem to have a Hannukah party security plan with 2,000 Jews exposed like sitting ducks, we can’t be complacent here. What happened there had nothing to do with people protesting Israel or politics. It was just a genocidal, ethnic cleansing, targeting Jews because they were Jews.

There is much blood on the hands of governments that play footsie with terror sympathizers for votes.

Politicians and police need to act

But it’s not too late to take this threat more seriously.

While it should have been demanded before, Prime Minister Mark Carney, Premier Doug Ford, Mayor Olivia Chow, Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw and Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah, should make one thing very clear.

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There should be no more anti-Jewish demonstrations permitted on roadways, intersections, in front of private businesses or consulates, embassies, high schools, elementary schools, hospitals or at university and college campuses.

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The only place people should be allowed to protest is on the public square at city halls, Parliament Hill or Queen’s Park.

No blocking of streets, ambulance routes, sidewalks or taking over of the lawns of university campuses. No protesting inside shopping malls or intimidating people eating in Jewish-owned restaurants and coffee shops.

When people are displaying signs or chanting for intifada (uprising) — or showing posters of guns or slogans “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” of Jews or “there is only one solution, intifada revolution” — it’s far past the time for authorities to take them seriously.

Do we just wait until there’s a terror attack on Jews similar to what happened in Australia? It’s not like the same warning signs were not on display to all to see.

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The Centre of Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and B’nai Brith Canada have been issued strong criticisms of the current approach.

Both are calling for a crackdown on antisemitic propaganda networks.

“We have seen the deadly consequences of calls to ‘globalize the intifada’ and the rise of violent antisemitic extremism,” said CIJA CEO Noah Shack. “Canada is not immune. Canadians must wake up to this reality – we need urgent action from governments and law enforcement to keep all of us safe.”

B’nai Brith added “do not wait for a Canadian Bondi Beach,” and called for police to “enforce hate crime laws, consistently and publicly, shut down extremist networks and incitement, protect Jewish schools, synagogues, and community spaces, name antisemitism clearly, without excuses or disclaimers and stop allowing Jew hatred to thrive under the veil of anti-zionism.”

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Slow to protect Jews

Police in Australia didn’t seem ready for this and were disturbingly slow to protect Jews being shot at for what some say was up to 20 minutes. In fact, a brave hero shop owner did more to try to stop it than anybody. They will have to study the police response there. But the carnage is done.

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But it’s not too late to do something about it here. A very clear message from out leaders is needed.

The people responsible for policing and governing need to emphatically tell protesters if they continue to go into Jewish neighbourhoods, they will be arrested. If they go into a building with Jewish seniors and remove their Mezuzahs, they will not only face theft counts but hate crimes charges, as well.

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With synagogues and Jewish schools having been victimized repeatedly, there should be no confusion about just what could happen if the wrong people manage to pull of their plans. The GTA has already dodged some serious bullets in this regard recently. As the Toronto Sun’s Brad Hunter reported in 2024, a terror attacked was thwarted by law enforcement in the nick of time.

“Toronto was the target,” RCMP Supt. James Parr told Hunter. “It’s a very tense time. The (plot) was in an advanced stages of planning. I wouldn’t call it imminent but it was close.”

What could come next?

The way to help ensure another plan doesn’t come to the GTA is to start taking more seriously what anti-Israel and pro-Hamas militants are saying here and not allowing them to have free reign in the streets. Enforce the laws and bylaws on the books and communicate with leaders that nothing off of the public squares will be tolerated here.

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With Hanukkah beginning Sunday, this should happen immediately. Do you get the sense the leaders are prepared to take this step? Here’s what some of them have said so far:

— Prime Minister Mark Carney: “Horrified by the antisemitic terror attack that has stolen the lives of 11 people at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach today in Australia. Canada stands with the people of Australia and Jewish people everywhere in sorrow, and determination never to bow to terrorism, violence, hatred and intimidation. Hanukkah is a time of light amidst the darkness, and a remembrance of the resilience of the Jewish people. May we all support and strengthen that resilience to protect our Jewish communities and to ensure more fundamentally that all people can thrive in every aspect of our society.”

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— Ontario Premier Doug Ford: “My thoughts are with the Jewish community in Australia, here in Ontario and around the world following the terrible attack that took place in Sydney earlier today, at the start of Hanukkah.” He added: “We must all stand with our Jewish community against hate and antisemitism wherever it is found. I am praying for the victims and their loved ones, and that all those responsible for this attack are swiftly brought to justice.”

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— Mayor Olivia Chow tweeted her “heart is with the Jewish community” in Australia — even though she often does not attend Jewish events in her own city.

Not a happy Hanukkah

— Toronto Police Sunday also tweeted: “Happy Hanukkah to everyone celebrating the Festival of Lights. We wish you a safe and joyous time with family and friends. Our hearts are with those impacted by the tragic events in Bondi Beach, Australia. Toronto Police Service stands in solidarity with our Jewish community and remains committed to your safety.”

It’s not a happy Hanukkah, but the sentiment offers a start. In a time when many hide behind the term “Zionism” to spew anti-Jewish hate, expressing sympathy to Australia does not send a message that no antisemitism will be accepted here and that all protests will only be permitted on public squares.

If a country doesn’t want to see terror globalized, it better stop allowing to fester locally.

Before it’s too late.

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