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Avi Benlolo: Canada must root out the evil before it is too late

After shots fired at three synagogues, this is a national emergency

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Three synagogues were shot at in the greater Toronto area in the span of a week. Canada’s leaders condemned them with words but did little. Prior to that, our children were targeted by pro-Palestinian groups for going to camp, but nothing was done. Our neighbourhoods and event gatherings were repeatedly targeted by masked pro-Hamas men and women, but everyone chose to look the other way. 

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Ottawa earmarked $10 million to protect Jewish institutions after the gunfire attacks. But that is not enough. This is a national emergency. Ten-million dollars to protect one of this nation’s most productive and contributing communities is insulting. It’s an admission that authorities cannot protect us. If anything, to immediately protect our community from further shootings, police must be installed at every Jewish institution across the land, no matter cost. 

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Step one is to defend and protect the Jewish community against violence and terrorism of the sort we saw this past weekend. Step two is setting to work to root out the evil that has been allowed to permeate in our country since October 7 and before. Words always lead to action and who among us is shocked that the threats against the Jewish community on our streets has turned repeatedly to violence? 

Our letters to the prime minister have gone unanswered. We warned. We pleaded. We met with police and political leaders. Many spoke out and supported our community. I commend police leaders who stand with us ready and engaged. Some political leaders (but not many) listened, condemned but sadly, little action resulted. Even the now infamous Combating Hate Act (Bill C-9) has failed to pass into law because politicians care about their own interests. I too doubt it would help protect synagogues, disallow protests outside of religious institutions and hate symbols.  

But having gone through the cumbersome if not impossible process of seeking attorney general consent to press charges against a hate crime, in my view, Bill C-9, which removes that obstacle, would be a game changer: Police could quickly make arrests and allow the courts to decide on the gravity of the hate crime. If everything else was dropped from Bill C-9 and only this clause remained, it would be a major deterrent to anyone wanting to target the Jewish community. 

And what can we expect when deterrents we previously put into place are being dismantled brick by brick? Just last month, Canada announced it was shuttering the office of Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism. The office originally created in 2009 to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and then to combat antisemitism was at the very least a constant reminder to the government about it’s obligation. Now there is nothing but an empty promise to establish an Advisory Council on Rights, Equality, and Inclusion.  

In March 2025, at the National Forum on Combatting Antisemitism in Ottawa, Canada pledged to enhance law enforcement and prosecution. It promised legislative reform. It planned on further education and awareness. It pledged government coordination and leadership. Most importantly, it reaffirmed its responsibility to protect the public. Considering the shooting attacks at three synagogues, we demand accountability to what appears empty promises.  

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This week, in a call with Canada’s Jewish community, Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog “expressed (his) deep alarm at the recent series of antisemitic attacks in the Toronto area.” Similarly, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar said, “six shootings targeting Jewish institutions in Toronto in just one week. Now also the U.S. Consulate has been hit. When antisemitism goes unchecked, violence inevitably escalates. Canadian authorities must act immediately and decisively before this dangerous trend leads to further attacks.” 

“In light of the recent outbreaks of violence, Canada’s government is expected to act,” said Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister, MK Sharren Haskel, who happens to be Canadian. “Inaction in the face of the octopus’s tentacles will lead to a ‘Bondi Beach 2’ in the heart of Montreal or Toronto. Those who ignore terrorism in the Middle East will ultimately face it in their own homes.” 

Our country is brilliant at smiling, condemning, and giving money to quiet problems. In truth, to solve this problem we must root out the evil from within before it’s too late.   

Avi Benlolo is the Chairman and CEO of The Abraham Global Peace Initiative.

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