Michael Higgins: This is what the Islamists in our streets want
The horror of Bondi Beach could just as easily happen in Canada — because the conditions are the same: we have allowed antisemitism to grow unchecked and infect our society.
Jews in Canada were already living in a climate of fear, now Hanukkah celebrations will be overshadowed by terror.
Robert Gregory, the CEO of the Australian Jewish Association, put it plainly in a statement : “What happened tonight is a tragedy but entirely foreseeable.”
How was it foreseeable? Because Australia — just like Canada — has seen an explosion of antisemitism. In both countries, Jewish schools, businesses, and synagogues have been attacked. Pro-Hamas/anti-Israel protests are commonplace.
The leaders of both countries were warned that recognizing a Palestinian state would escalate Jew hatred.
“By effectively demonizing Israel, (Mark Carney) opened the floodgates for more antisemitic acts in Canada,” warned Jack Mintz in the National Post.
But Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Mark Carney went ahead anyway, recklessly, without adequate thought for the Jewish people, and with absolutely no regard for their safety.
Their sanctimonious posturing merely added to the festering hate that is staining both countries.
It was less than two weeks ago that Jewish leaders from the world’s seven largest diaspora communities — including Canada — convened a task force in Sydney because of the rising tide of global antisemitism.
The group warned that “the sharp spike in antisemitism seen in Australia, including foreign state-linked attacks, is part of a dangerous global pattern threatening Jewish communities and democracies worldwide.”
In a statement, Marina Rosenberg, the senior vice-president for international affairs for the Anti-Defamation League, said, “What is happening in Australia is not an exception; it should be a wake-up call to communities worldwide.
“Across North America, Europe and Latin America, Jewish communities are reporting the same pattern of unprecedented harassment, threats and incitement. When synagogues can be firebombed in Melbourne and Jews threatened and attacked in New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Buenos Aires and Toronto, this is a threat not only to Jewish safety but to democratic stability itself.”
That warning was given only 12 days ago, but Jews in Australia — just like Canada — have been alerting governments about the dangers of rising antisemitism for over two years and nothing has been done.
In the ADL statement, Richard Marceau, general counsel for Canada’s Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said, “Here in Canada, extremists have escalated their hatred and violence: openly glorifying Hamas ‘martyrs’ on our streets, attacking Jewish and pro-Israel students at events, harassing Jewish families outside their homes, and targeting synagogues and other Jewish institutions.
“For these extremists, this was never only about Israel’s actions in Gaza; it is about instilling fear and sowing division within our society. Canada must stand with its international partners in confronting this threat — not only to counter antisemitism, but to safeguard the future of our democratic way of life for all people.”
Since the massacre of October 7, 2023, both countries have been swamped by Jew hatred.
A new report from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) reveals antisemitic incidents are at record highs.
“Arson attacks against synagogues, preschools and other Jewish institutions, are higher than in any previous year on record,” says the ECAJ.
Here in Canada, B’nai Brith reported earlier this year: “Antisemitism in Canada has reached perilous, record-setting heights.”
How many wake-up calls do political leaders, at all levels in Canada, need before they act? Must Canada experience its own version of Bondi Beach before Carney decides that enough is enough?
In a statement on X, Carney made the usual points about being horrified and not bowing to terrorism.
“Horrified by the antisemitic terror attack that has stolen the lives of 11 people at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach today in Australia,” he said. “Canada stands with the people of Australia and Jewish people everywhere in sorrow, and determination never to bow to terrorism, violence, hatred and intimidation.”
He added, “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.”
If Carney truly wants to protect our Jewish communities he first needs to recognize the grip antisemitism has on this country and its scope. He must then resolve to use all means at his disposal to tackle it. Taking leadership on the issue will empower other political leaders, as well as police, to take appropriate action.
Tackling the evil of antisemitism first requires that political leaders don’t just ignore it — as they have been doing.
Meanwhile, Hanukkah is too sacred for Jews not to celebrate, despite the obvious dangers.
“We will not give in to terror,” said Rabbi Levi Gansburg of Toronto’s Chabad on Bayview, announcing that Chanukah celebrations will continue Sunday night. “Fear does not define us, and it will not silence Jewish life.”
These are dark days for Canada’s Jewish community and politicians need to act before they get darker.
National Post