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Dear John, 

This week, we joined Canadians who lost family members to Hamas violence since October 7 in taking the Canadian Government to court, and called on law enforcement to charge those who break the law to its full extent.

Read on to learn more. 

CIJA

Today marks six months since the October 7 Hamas massacre. At least 130 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza, as the Israel-Hamas war continues in efforts to secure their release and vanquish Hamas. 

On Thursday, 30 days after the Government of Canada decided to resume funding for the controversial United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Canadian families who lost loved ones in the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, together with CIJA, filed a Federal Court application for judicial review contending that the decision to do reinstate funding to UNRWA was patently unreasonable because it violates Canadian law.  It lays out the arguments of why UNRWA cannot be the agency to fulfill this responsibility and should be disqualified from funding. 

Alongside CIJA as applicants are Canadians who lost family members to Hamas violence since October 7: Dikla Mizrachi, mother of Ben Mizrachi; Iris Liniado, daughter of Judih Weinstein Haggai; Jacqui Vital, mother of Adi Vital-Kaploun; and Raquel Ohnona, mother of Alexandre Look. The legal challenge is led by well-known Ottawa-based human rights lawyer Lawrence Greenspon and co-counsel Jillian Siskind, members of CIJA’s Legal Task Force. Learn more.

Al Quds Day, an annual anti-Israel event established by the extremist Iranian regime of the Mullahs, took place this weekend in cities across Canada – including Toronto and Ottawa. Past protests have featured unacceptable incitement to violence, calls for Israel’s destruction, the promotion of anti-Israel and antisemitic conspiracy theories, and the display of symbols associated with terrorist groups banned in Canada.

We are grateful officials from all levels of government and community leaders who condemned this hateful event. But words are not enough. We call on the police across Canada to ensure that, if any law was broken, those responsible will be charged to the full extent of the law.

Community Calendar

Communities are gathering in cities across Canada in support of the people and land of Israel. Find an event near you.

April 22-30 | Passover
May 5-6 | Yom HaShoah
May 12-13 | Yom Hazikaron
May 13-14 | Yom Haatzmaut
May 20 | Victoria Day
Jun 12-13 | Shavuot

CIJA in the News 

Canada is experiencing an unprecedented spike in antisemitic incidents (Fox News)

Amid hostility and kosher restrictions, Canadian Jews fear their 'golden age' is over (The Times of Israel)

MPs, Jewish groups seek to end religious hate-speech defence in online harms bill (The Globe and Mail)

Two days of anti-Israel protests shut down buildings at McGill University (The Canadian Jewish News)

FIRST READING: As anti-Israel blockaders get more radical, authorities begin to push back (National Post)

Le Canada condamne la frappe israélienne sur des travailleurs humanitaires à Gaza (Le Devoir, + syndication de La presse canadienne)

Canadian families of Hamas victims, CIJA sue Canadian government for resuming UNRWA funding (The Jerusalem Post)

Ottawa is being sued for restoring UNRWA funding by survivors of terror victims (National Post, + Postmedia Syndication)

Democracy Is Under Siege Globally. Canada Is Being Tested (The Tyee)

Canadian Families File for Judicial Review of Ottawa’s Funding of UNRWA (Alberta Jewish News)

Community Careers

Associate Director, Communications & Marketing - CIJA
National senior professional, External Affairs - CIJA
Associate Director, University Relations and Public Education | Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver/CIJA
Digital Marketing & Communications Specialist - Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver