Killing Children in Israel Because They Live in Israel
There are no words for the terrible deeds of Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis and other Islamists under the thumb and patronage of Iran. Still, killing anyone and everyone in Israel is mind-numbing, and cannot be rationally explained nor ever justified. Yet, the Paletsinian Authority has not condemned this act of aggression and barbarism that took the lives of 13 Druze children on Saturday, July 27, while they played in a soccer field in the Druze village of Majdal Shams, in Northern Israel.
Please remember these children. Please remember our Druze compatriots who are Israeli citizens, who serve willingly in the IDF, who defend our land, and stand with our people.
Watch webinar with Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi, Founder and Chairman of IDSF who visited the village:
Watch video recording of CAEF/TZC/CILR program featuring Naomi Kahn, international Spokesperson, REGAVIM: Settler Violence in Judea and Samaria - Fact vs Fiction, Reality vs. Fake News.
How do Palestinian Arabs in Judea and Samaria view the Gazan War?
Watch Zach Sage Fox in Ramallah:
An Open Letter to Canadians: The Injustice of the International Court of Justice
by Charles Cooke, CAEF Government Relations Rep.
Dear Fellow Canadians;
On July 19, 2024 The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a non-binding Advisory Opinion in respect of the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem (the Opinion).
This is the CAEF Statement in Response.
There is much to comment on in this decision; however, for the purposes of this Statement we will focus on only two aspects of the “Opinion”. Many in Canada and the West take the position, on a presumptive basis, that the court is akin to a domestic Canadian court.
The ICJ is not like the Ontario Superior Court, for many reasons, including demonstrable bias. There is a cornerstone in our justice system that justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done. In Ontario, judges must be unbiased or otherwise recuse themselves from rendering a decision.
In this provisional “Opinion”, the long record of statements and actions by the President of the ICJ against Israel, prior to this decision, should have made his position in this case untenable. He should have recused himself. However, no such action occurred. Thus, the bias of the ICJ and in, particular its President is overwhelmingly manifest.
Kudos to Vaughn City for By-Law that Limits Demonstrations
Below is a statement and a letter from Mayor Steve Del Duca, above.
“The right to peaceful protest is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But our freedoms as Canadians are not without limits. We have a fundamental obligation to each other, and a collective responsibility to build a cohesive society.
Good afternoon,
I am writing to let you know that Vaughan City Council unanimously supported the Protecting Vulnerable Social Infrastructure By-law 143-2024 on June 25th.
This By-law, which is now in effect in the City of Vaughan, prohibits nuisance demonstrations that intimidate or incite hatred, violence or intolerance within 100 metres of our vulnerable social infrastructure, including all places of worship.
This makes Vaughan the first municipality in Canada to take this important step.
Readers: Write to Mayor Del Duca and thank him for decisive leadership, mayor@vaughan.ca.
Click here for the official statement.
We Remember — Attacks in Argentina 30 years ago
Thirty years ago, Iran’s proxy in Argentina conducted the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust; now the second largest massacre since October 7, 2023. This horrendous attack, the bombing of the AMIA Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires, killed 85 people. Justice for those killed in this massacre has never been realized.
On July 18, 2024, Jews from around the world attended the commemorative event. One of the attendees from Canada noted that when he spoke to others and they compared today’s anti-Israel activism on the streets of major Canadian cities with that displays of Jew hatred in cities around the world, Canada did not fare well. Sadly the comparison resulted in the view that Canadian antisemitic displays, attacks and security threats are greater than what is being experienced in most European and South American cities. Surely this is a warning!
Read article in JTA.org of the pain still felt by Argentinian Jews.
Read article in The Times of Israel about the commitment of Argentina’s new President to seek justice for the Jews affected by the bombing.
Who are the Houthis?
The excerpt below is from The United West, by Tom Trento:
“The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah (supporters of God), are an armed group that control most parts of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, and some of the western and northern areas close to Saudi Arabia. The Houthis emerged in the 1990s but rose to prominence in 2014, when the group rebelled against Yemen’s government, causing it to step down and sparking a crippling humanitarian crisis. Houthis then spent years, with Iran’s backing, fighting Saudi Arabia.”
THIS IS THE HOUTHI’S FLAG
THIS IS WHAT THE FLAG SAYS
For some months the Houthis of Yemen, an Iranian backed terror organization has been attacking ships in the Red Sea. On Friday July 19, 2024, they attacked Tel Aviv with a drone killing one Israeli and injuring two more and destroying property.
While they have not struck in Canada, their reach is likely far and wide, at least for funding. The Houthis do not appear to be on the Canadian list of terrorist entities.
While Canada issued a Joint Statement with Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and United States on the Houthis in Yemen on February 3, 2024, in regards to keeping the international seaways open and protecting commercial transportation, we could find no statement about the attack on Israel by the Houthis.
Read article in the Jerusalem Post, July 23, on impact of Operation Outstretched Arm on Yemen:
CAEF Partnered to Share One Hostage Family’s Story
On July 27, Moshe Emilio Lavi spoke at Beth Tikvah Synagogue highlighting the dramatic and painful story of his brother-in-law’s family’s encounter with Hamas terrorist that resulted in the kidnapping of Omri Miran. On July 28, Moshe spoke to an afternoon gathering at the Toronto Zionist Centre and to the congregation at Friends of Jesus Christ, Canada Church in the evening. His somber and tragic story of a family’s months long suffering reminded all that we must keep up prayers for the 115 hostages, and make demands that Hamas release the hostages.
Our thanks to partners, One Global Voice, TZC, Hostages and Missing Families Forum, and host organizations.
Watch the Shabbat Morning “sermon” from Moshe Lavi:
Solidarity Against Hate Presents 13 Speakers & Boisterous Responses
On August 1st, Pride of Israel Synagogue hosted a community event featuring speakers from 3 levels of government, two major political parties, and the Toronto Police Services, with a packed house. The event co-sponsored by CAEF and other Jewish NGOs and private firms, presented the audience with many viewpoints on what is to be done to confront antisemitism, and absolute unanimity on the severity of the situation that is now reaching crisis point given recent incidents in Canada.
Shots have been fired at a Jewish school, firebombs placed at synagogues, a bus burned, repeated vandalism at schools and places of worship, and street protests and harassment that demonstrate disregard for the law and civility.
The list of speakers included: MPs Melissa Landsman, Ya’ara Saks, Anthony Housefather, and Marco Mendicino, MPPs Laura Smith, Stan Cho, Mayor Olivia Chow, Deputy Police Chief Robert Johnson, Councilors James Pasternak and Lily Cheng.
Read letter from CAEF President, Anita Bromberg, to all the Politicians participating in An Evening of Solidarity Against Hate, July 31 in Toronto, co-sponsored by CAEF.
Read the excellent CJN spotlight on the event by Ellin Bessner:
10th Anniversary Commemoration of the Yezidi Massacre in Iraq and Syria—Where is Canada Now?
On August 2nd, Jews, Hindus, Iranians, and others stood with the Yezidi community of Ontario to commemorate the massacre of thousands of innocent men, women and children by ISIS/ISIL terrorists in Iraq and Syria. August 3rd marks the day in 2014 that commenced the attack, destroying families, communities, whole villages in an attempt to eradicate a 7000 year old indigenous people.
Jews and Yezidis have a long history of dwelling together and when the Yezidi tragedy unfolded, hundreds of Jews in Canada worked to bring survivors to Canada, sponsoring families, organizing programs, raising funds, initiating ESL classes for adults and schooling for children, while also locating accommodation and furnishing it. Strong bonds have been formed between our peoples, and the concern for the welfare of the Yezidis remains. However, 10 years out, Canada has not fulfilled its promise to bring more survivors to Canada, to reunite family members and to demand accountability of the genocidal terrorists.
CAEF and other organizations co-sponsored the rally and helped to organize it. These organizations will now collaborate to call upon the Canadian government to fulfill its promise to bring surviving family members to Canada. (Insert poster)
Read the National Post story by Ehsanullah Amiri and learn about individuals who suffered capture, confinement, rape, and witness to the murder of their loved ones. Over 2500 Yezidis remain in captivity:
Advocacy and Action
ANNOUNCING THE ALLIANCE OF CANADIANS COMBATING ANTISEMITISM
Just launched, ALCCA is a coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to combatting the unprecedented levels of antisemitism in Canada. Each member organization brings expertise and dedication – and a great deal of voluntarism – to our work. Founded by lawyer Mark Sandler, the Alliance which has brought together over a dozen organizations, both grassroots and established to collaborate. There are specific operating principles including working together, supporting the IHRA, rejecting extremism, protecting our children, and respectful dialogue.
Read more and subscribe today: https://www.alcca.ca
Read letter from Sydell Waxman, Toronto, to Deputy Leader, CPC, Melissa Lantsman, cc MP Garnett Genius, MP Anthony Housefather and City Councilor James Pasternak.
Please sign CAEF petition (if you have not yet), with many co-sponsors, directed at Canadian and American Social Work associations responsible for the academic curriculum of all university SW departments.
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