View as webpage

Dear John, 

This week, we advocated to ensure international aid funds are never used to finance terrorism, worked with law enforcement to support their budget requirements, and argued the absurdity of South Africa’s representations to the International Court of Justice.

Read on to learn more.

The CIJA Team  

Canadian taxpayer dollars should not fund organizations with ties to hate, terror, violence, and antisemitism. 

Last week, Israel provided alarming evidence that at least a dozen employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) played a role in the October 7 attacks against Israel. The intelligence, which U.S. officials have described as credible, shows that upwards of 10% of UNRWA staff working in Gaza – about 1,200 people – have ties to Islamist militant groups, including Hamas, while 50% of the staff are closely related to Hamas terrorists. Israel’s report cites multiple examples of UNRWA’s direct involvement in the October 7 massacre, including claims that one employee kidnapped a woman during the raid, another dispensed ammunition, and another took part in the massacre at a kibbutz where 97 people were killed. 

Canada is among 17 nations – including Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, and the United States – that have frozen funds to UNRWA.  

We are disappointed that Mayor Chow’s 2024 City of Toronto Budget maintained the previously announced shortfall of $12.6M from the Toronto Police Service’s (TPS) requested operating budget, which we felt dismissed the safety and security concerns raised by community members.  

Almost 6,000 community members and allies sent an email through CIJA’s Action Alert to Mayor Chow urging her to refrain from cutting the police’s requested budget so they can continue to protect all Torontonians.  

CIJA will continue to urge Council to prevent any shortfall in funding, so that our police have the tools they need to enforce the law and safeguard the Jewish community – and all Torontonians – from the threat of hate-motivated and other crime. 

On January 26, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered its Order on the Request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).   

An opinion piece in the Toronto Star, written by CIJA's Director of Public Policy & Research (Quebec) Emmanuelle Amar and CIJA VP Richard Marceau, entitled Theatre of the absurd at the International Court of Justice, explores the irrationality of South Africa’s claim of genocide against Israel. Read it here.  

We are grateful to the municipalities and institutions across Canada who, as darkness fell on January 27, illuminated more than 50 public spaces in Canada to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Illuminated landmarks included the Toronto sign and CN Tower, the National Gallery of Canada, Niagara Falls, Montreal’s Olympic Stadium Tower, Vancouver’s BC Place, and St. John’s City Hall in Newfoundland. Each were bathed in yellow, evoking candlelight, in remembrance.

Community Calendar

Communities are gathering in cities across Canada in response to the devastating war on Israel by Hamas and other terror groups in Gaza. Find an event near you.

February 19 | Family Day (CIJA offices closed in BC & ON) 
April 22-30 | Passover

CIJA in the News 

Theatre of the absurd at the International Court of Justice (Toronto Star)

Canada takes no clear position on interim ruling in genocide case against Israel (The Globe & Mail, + The Canadian Press Syndication)

Empêcher un « génocide » – Épisode du vendredi 26 janvier 2024 – Le téléjournal Ottawa-Gatineau – 13:38-16 :35 (ICI Télé Radio-Canada)

Pro-terror college instructor who claimed victory at not being fired … is fired (Ottawa Citizen, + Postmedia Syndication)

Canada's UNRWA funding pause was a long time coming, observers say (National Post, + Postmedia Syndication)

Canada suspends funding to UNRWA after reports that employees participated in the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel (The Canadian Jewish News)

Cabinet minister refuses to answer reporters' questions on timing of UNRWA funding pause (National Post)

Canada warned to cut off military exports to Israel or face legal challenge (The Globe and Mail)

Canada had already sent UNRWA $48M when pause announced, GAC confirms (National Post)

Liberalism’s civil war in the reaction to Hamas’ attack: Michael Bonner for Inside Policy (Macdonald Laurier Institute)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE CIJA IN THE NEWS 

Community Careers

Associate Director, University Relations and Public Education | Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver/CIJA

CEO, Ottawa Soloway Jewish Community Centre

Community Engagement Specialist | Jewish Federation of Ottawa

Associate Director, Community Security (Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver)

Director of Grants and Allocations (Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver/CIJA)

Vice President, Community Planning, Partnerships & Innovation (Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver)