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Dear John, This week, we contacted the Prime Minister’s office expressing outrage regarding Canada’s endorsement of the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. We mobilized Mississaugans to demand an unequivocal apology from their mayor for her offensive remarks and dismissive attitude toward the concerns of the Jewish community. And, because the administration at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Lincoln Alexander School of Law has been unwilling to meet with CIJA to discuss the external review of a letter replete with antisemitic content signed and circulated by students, we are sharing our response publicly with you. For more information, read on. CIJA
On Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued warrants for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. The ICC discredits itself by taking a biased, anti-Israel stance, claiming that the alleged crimes date back to as early as October 8, 2023 – the day of mourning in Israel following Hamas’ attacks. By issuing arrest warrants against leaders of a country that is not a party to the ICC, the court has both made a mockery of international law and given solace to Hamas, Hezbollah — and, behind them, Iran — in their war efforts to exterminate Israel. We have expressed concern with the Government of Canada’s response – a broad approval and acceptance of the ICC’s biased stance and have raised the issues with both Prime Minister’s Office and Foreign Minister Joly’s office, reiterating CIJA’s position on the ICC decision highlighting its overt bias and its failure to hold accountable egregious violators of international law like Iran, Syria, and China. We have also invited members of our community and allies to tell their MP that Canada must reject this perversion of international law unequivocally and reaffirm its commitment to impartial justice. You can find your MP here and suggested messaging for an email here. We will continue to monitor this critical issue closely and will provide further updates as they develop. Read our full statement here.
At a recent Mississauga City Council meeting, after days of insisting that she would allow a vigil planned for terrorist Yayha Sinwar to take place on city property, and a continuous dismissive attitude toward the concerns of the Jewish community, Mayor Carolyn Parrish drew a deeply offensive comparison between deceased Hamas terrorist leader Yahya Sinwar and Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela. Her divisive actions and anti-Israel bias are especially concerning considering she is an elected leader whose role as mayor is to foster inclusivity. On Monday, we mobilized the Jewish community to demand the Mayor provide an unequivocal apology by Friday, noting that if she did not, the community would ask Mississauga City Council to move to censure her until she recognizes the grave impact of her words and actions. We join the Jewish community in outrage that, as of this morning, she has not yet apologized. We now call on Mississauga City Council to put forward a motion to censure the mayor until she recognizes the dangerous impact of her words. Click here to learn how to make your voice heard by City Councillors.
In September, CIJA submitted a formal response to the Toronto Metropolitan University external review commissioned to determine whether a letter replete with antisemitic content, which was written, signed, and circulated by students at TMU’s Lincoln Alexander School of Law (LASL), breached TMU’s code of conduct. Prepared in conjunction with a panel of lawyers and academics, our response outlined the severe deficiencies in the Strengthening the Pillars: Report of the TMU External Review produced by Retired Chief Justice J. Michael MacDonald. The administration acknowledged our response and committed to meeting with us to discuss the issues we had raised. After several delays in setting a date, the university then cancelled the scheduled meeting and has since failed to agree to a new date to discuss our concerns. We are, therefore, now sharing our response with you. The situation at LALS remains problematic on many fronts. Concerned community members, alumni, faculty, and students should feel free to reach out to Dean Donna Young to express their own thoughts. Read our response here. Would you like to stay current on issues of concern and news from CIJA as it happens? Sign up here to opt in to receive CIJA's press releases and media statements. To stay up to date with what’s happening in Israel and the effects of antisemitism on life here in Canada, sign up for the National Post's Channel Israel newsletter here. Take ActionTell the Government to stand up to division and hate – reject APR Hold
Osgoode Professor Accountable for Antisemitism Community CalendarDecember 5 | Webinar:
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Jewish Federation | Executive Director CIJA in the NewsFallout from Regina flag raising cancellation (CTV News Saskatchewan) Could Dutch attacks happen here? (The Catholic Register)
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The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs is the advocacy agent of Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA, representing Jewish Federations across Canada |
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