Article content

“First, the Saturday people, next the Sunday people and then the secular West.” It’s a slogan attributed over the years to radical Islamists, who first persecuted Jews and then turned their attention to Christians, driving them from many parts of the Middle East.

During the second intifada, Jewish tourism to Israel dramatically dropped. But tourism from U.S. Christian groups significantly increased. Why? Because they know that if the little Satan (Israel) fell, the big Satan (America) was next.

Article content

Article content

Christian groups continue to be strong supporters of Israel.

“There is widespread bipartisan support for aid to Israel in the House of Representatives, yet this legislative branch is being held hostage from within, undermining both American and Israeli national security,” the chairwoman of Christians United for Israel, Sandra Parker, said this week.

“Our members are compelled by their faith to act on this issue, and act we shall.”

Article content

Article content

It will be unfortunate if, as result of the protests on our streets, there arises a backlash against extensive Muslim immigration to Canada. Look at the anti-Muslim parties being elected in Western Europe as result of the violence in their streets from large unvetted Muslim immigration.

It is necessary for the moderate Muslim community to speak out loudly, as I have called for before, because, in not doing so, they are viewed by many to be complicit or supportive of the messages espoused at these rallies. I do understand their fear in doing so, a fear which is justified.

There are some Muslims speaking out despite intimidation, including an increasing presence of Iranian Canadians joining counter demonstrations in support of Israel. No one understands better what Israel is up against. One of the Iranian-Canadian leaders is Ontario MPP Goldie Ghamari.

“I chose to speak from my heart and from my experience as an immigrant whose family escaped from the most brutal, radical Islamofacist regime in the world: the terrorist Islamic regime in Iran,” Ghamari told the Ontario legislature.

Article content

“We came to Canada because we wanted to live a better life. We embrace Canadian values.”

Goldie and other brave Iranian-Canadians are speaking out despite the potential of intimidation from Iranian government agents, who are able to work relatively freely in this country, and the Iranian government’s warnings that it is monitoring social media of Iranians, and taking action against any who support Israel.

For those trying to equate the current wave of antisemitism with Islamophobia — including our Prime Minister, who can’t decry one without the other —
this is utter balderdash. Muslim stores and businesses are not being vandalized. Jews are not parading calling for the death of Muslims in our streets. There is no equivalence.

Canada needs to do more to dial back the rise of antisemitism.

The police must start uniformly enforcing the law and arresting those spewing hate speech at rallies. Any non-Canadian committing a criminal act at one of these protests should be deported. Trudeau’s plan to bring in tens of thousands of Gazans, when the polls indicate they overwhelmingly support the violence of Oct. 7, should be stillborn.

Article content

Canadian Jews have to be as tough as Israelis, cease being fearful, put back the mezuzahs on their homes and Stars of David on their persons.

Finally, it is said that the support of one non-Jew for the state of Israel is worth that of 10 Jews. The Jewish community is going through a rough period — they could use their neighbours’ vocal support.

Howard Levitt is senior partner of Levitt Sheikh, employment and labour lawyers with offices in Toronto and Hamilton. He practices employment law in eight provinces and is the author of six books including the Law of Dismissal in Canada.

Article content