Jewish community leaders in Montreal on Tuesday called for widespread condemnation of the overnight firebombings of two local Jewish institutions, saying the incidents are the latest evidence of antisemitism in the city.
害羞草研究所淚f you害羞草研究所檙e asking how the Jewish community is feeling, they害羞草研究所檙e not feeling so safe,害羞草研究所� Yair Szlak, president and CEO of Montreal Jewish organization Federation CJA, told a news conference. 害羞草研究所淎nd I think there is a lot to be done by our politicians, by our leaders, by leaders of every community to say that this is not acceptable behaviour.害羞草研究所�
The two firebombings in the night between Monday and Tuesday caused minor damage to the front door of the Congregation Beth Tikvah synagogue and the back door of the nearby Federation CJA office in the Montreal suburb of Dollard-des-Ormeaux. No one was injured since the two buildings were empty at the time of the incidents, Szlak said.
The firebombings are under investigation by the Montreal police department. Police spokesperson Sabrina Gauthier said Tuesday morning that investigators had not yet determined a motive for the apparent attacks, but they come amid rising tensions linked to the Israel-Hamas war, which was sparked by an Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that killed about 1,400 people, mostly civilians. The Palestinian death toll from retaliatory Israeli strikes had surpassed 10,000, the Health Ministry of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said Monday.
Congregation Beth Tikvah cantor Henry Topas said in a statement released by Jewish group B害羞草研究所檔ai Brith Canada that the synagogue is 害羞草研究所渉orrified that exactly one month to the day of the atrocities committed by Hamas, someone tried to burn down our house of worship.害羞草研究所�
Szlak called the Oct. 7 Hamas attack 害羞草研究所渁 dark day in Jewish history. To perpetuate that crime against humanity by acts against the Jewish community anywhere in the world is wrong,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲hat has happened today cannot happen again. It must be the last time this happens.害羞草研究所�
Police recorded 38 reports of hate crimes and other incidents targeting the Montreal Jewish community between Oct. 7 and Oct. 25.
Several politicians took to social media Tuesday to condemn the Montreal firebombings. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, that the 害羞草研究所渁ttempted arson 害羞草研究所� is deeply disturbing.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淎ntisemitism is completely unacceptable and must always be condemned 害羞草研究所� our government will continue to work with Jewish communities to combat this hatred.害羞草研究所�
Also present at the news conference Tuesday was Eta Yudin, vice-president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs Quebec, who addressed a speech by imam Adil Charkaoui at a recent pro-Palestine rally in downtown Montreal. In a video posted to Charkaoui害羞草研究所檚 TikTok account, he is leading a prayer in Arabic and calling on God to 害羞草研究所渢ake care of aggressor Zionists,害羞草研究所� adding 害羞草研究所淥 God, don害羞草研究所檛 leave any of them.害羞草研究所�
The Morocco-born Charkaoui was arrested under Canada害羞草研究所檚 security certificate system in 2003. Canada害羞草研究所檚 police and security departments alleged he was a terrorist and had trained at a militant camp in Afghanistan. For nine years his movements were monitored by the state but he was never charged.
Yudin said Charkaoui害羞草研究所檚 comment raises questions about 害羞草研究所渉ow he got to a demonstration, how he got to have the possibility to speak in the streets of Montreal.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淲e know very well that words lead to action,害羞草研究所� Yudin continued. 害羞草研究所淪uch a comment could inspire action. And that害羞草研究所檚 what we don害羞草研究所檛 want in the streets of Montreal. We害羞草研究所檙e counting on authorities to 害羞草研究所� do what is necessary to protect our society. But at the same time, it takes everyone to denounce this hate, these comments.害羞草研究所�
Speaking to reporters in Quebec City, Premier Fran莽ois Legault said Charkaoui害羞草研究所檚 comments are 害羞草研究所渋ncitement to hatred, to violence.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚 am counting on the police to do their jobs,害羞草研究所� he said, adding, 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not up to me to tell (police) how to do their jobs, but inciting hatred is not allowed.害羞草研究所�
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