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The govt’s dealings with the Jewish community to fight antisemitism on the home front (1)
- 10 May 2023
- 7:19 pm
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- 10 May 2023
- 7:19 pm
According to the B’nai Brith Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents 2022, Canada recorded the first year-over- year decrease since 2015, when the audit reported a 21.5% decline from 2014. When viewed from a historical perspective, the numbers are less reassuring. (Image: B’nai Brith Canada)
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1. The framework for fighting antisemitism
In broad terms the task to fight antisemitism or for that matter most hate crimes and incidents is like the task to fight most forms of hatred comprises three components: to unmask them, expose them and combat them.
2. More specifically in order to address these components it is imperative
a. to establish and maintain effective co-operation among the federal provincial and municipal authorities;
b. to design programs and practices that will empower and enable the target communities both to defend themselves and to fight against it;
c. to devise and implement effective action plans designed to equip the law enforcement personnel with the appropriate knowledge and skills to recognise antisemitic behaviour and hate crimes and to intervene in an appropriate fashion to prevent the perpetration of such crimes and failing that to arrest the offender(s);
d. to prosecute effectively the perpetrators, and
e. upon conviction, to seek sentences that will have a deterrent effect, and
f. to compile a uniform national statistical database that provides all the critical information necessary to acquire a proper empirical understanding of the facts on the ground in order to formulate the appropriate policies, programs and practices in addressing hate crimes and incidents.
Unfortunately, to date, such statistics have not been available but there are indications of movement towards this end, although not necessarily enough to meet the requirements of the previous paragraph.
2. The numbers talking
It has been pointed out that B’nai B’rith Canada compiles data on antisemitic incidents. The data is published in the annual “Audit of Antisemitic Incidents [in the previous year]. “Since the same definitions and incidents have been used, this database has been described as historical record of hate crimes in Canada”. Julian Roberts, Disproportionate Harm: Hate Crime in Canada, Government of Canada August 25, 2022
On April, 17, 2023 the B’nai B’rith published its Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents 2022 under the headline “Slight decline in antisemitic incidents far from reassuring-Online Hate Toward Jews a Major Concern, Annual Audit reveals”– www.bnaibrith.ca/audit
The 43 page document is replete with a variety of news for the year 2022.The following statistical facts are set out by Marvin Rotrand, National Director, and League of Human Rights in the Introduction to the Audit at page. (The headings and editorial comments are mine.)
The bad news
1. The total number of incidents recorded was 2769, down 1.1% from the 2799 incidents logged in 2021.
2. Notably, this is the first year-over- year decrease since 2015, when the audit reported a 21.5% decline from 2014.
When viewed from a historical perspective, the numbers are less reassuring.
a. In 2012, the Jewish community sounded the alarm when the audit noted 1345 antisemitic incidents, the highest number ever since the annual audits began in 1982. Ben Cohen, Dramatic Rise in Antisemitic Hate Crimes Unnerves Canadian Jewish Community, The Algemeiner, August 3, 2022.The article is based on the figures generated by the B’nai B’rith’s Audit for the year 2021
b. Ten years later in 2022, the number is an alarming 105.9% higher than that reported for 2012, the second highest number since B’nai B’rith started tracking the numbers 41 years ago. On average, there were more than 7.5 incidents daily
c. Social media has become the largest medium for antisemitic narratives giving purveyors of hate a global audience and limitless reach. 2056 or 74.3% of the incidents occurred online.
d. There was a 64.8% jump in incidents in Ontario as compared to 2021
e. Harassment constituted 85% of “in-person incidents”.
It is noteworthy that in the City of St. John’s NFLD one of the most peaceable spots in Canada where I live for a number of years, “ municipal buses have been recorded carrying antisemitic ads that falsely name Israel as an ‘apartheid’ state and our streets are filled with hatred as pro-.Palestinian protestors are allowed to call for genocide against the Jews, The desk of Avi Abraham Benlolo, The Global Peace Initiative, April 5,2023 see also: Global Report on antisemitism: https://:agpiworld.com/global-antisemitism Articles about combatting antisemitism https://agpiworld.com/antisemitism-%231
Michael Mostyn, CEO of B’nai B’rith, stated that his [organization] is alarmed and disturbed by the Audit findings: “Although there was an almost insignificant decrease from last year, antisemitic incidents continue to occur at an unacceptable and dangerous pace…Frankly, the amount of hate directed at Jewish Canadians is shameful.” JNS, Antisemitic incidents, violence dropped slightly in Canada, April 18, 2023
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Transient welcome news
In 2022, the violent incidents targeting Jews that could be documented decreased from 75 in 2021 to 25. A variety of factors contributed to this decrease, one of which was that after the 2021 Gaza war that led to a record number of attacks on Jews and Jewish properties ended; in 2022 relative peace descended on the region in 2022. This resulted in far less violence in Canada.
Thus, the Jewish community must remain on the alert, as the Palestinian aggression and terrorism picked up again towards the end of 2022, continues to this day and current indications are that it will continue for the foreseeable future and will inevitably get far more serious. (edited, but factually accurate)
I also say transient based on the Honest Reporting Canada (“HRC”) news item which read: Al Quds Day Rally in Toronto Replete with Antisemitism, Glorification of Terrorism& Incitement to Violence, April 20, 2023. The news reports states “…each year al-Quds Day rallies are often spectacles of anti-Israel and antisemitic hatred, including incitement to violence and glorification of terrorism against Israel… This year’s rally… even featured the speeches of an individual with suspected and alleged links to terrorism [Khaled Berekat] and his wife [Kates]. She is associated with Samidoun which is also alleged to be a subsidiary of the PFLP terrorist organisation. They were both denied entry to the European Union and deported shortly thereafter.” (Edited for form only)
Good news
The federal government of Canada began to implement the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
In conclusion
Mr. Rotrand, unlike Mr. Mostyn, is more optimistic in his outlook.
He wrote: “The challenges before us are profound, but there is reason to be optimistic. Developments in the past year reveal a growing appreciation of the threat of antisemitism and the need to tackle it head on. In 2023, we will continue to focus our efforts on urging the remaining provinces to enact IHRA and on partnering with government and law enforcement to fight the rot of antisemitism wherever and whenever it happens.”
In the forthcoming Parts, I will address the dealings in chronological order starting with 2015.
Doğan D. Akman is an independent researcher and commentator. He holds a B.Sc. in sociology, an M.A. in sociology/criminology and an LL.B in law. He held academic appointments in sociology, criminology and social policy; served as a Judge of the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, and occupied the positions of Crown Counsel in criminal prosecutions and in civil litigation at the Federal Department of Justice. His academic work is published in peer-reviewed professional journals, while his opinion pieces and other writings are to be found in various publications and in blogs.
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Thank you for choosing TheJ.Ca as your source for Canadian Jewish News.
We do news differently!
Our positioning as a Zionist News Media platform sets us apart from the rest. While other Canadian Jewish media are advocating increasingly biased progressive political and social agendas, TheJ.Ca is providing more and more readers with a welcome alternative and an ideological home.
We revealed the incursion of anti-Israel progressive elements such as IfNotNow into our communities. We have exposed the distorted hateful agenda of the “progressive” left political radicals who brought Linda Sarsour to our cities, and we were first to report on many disturbing incidents of Nazi-based hate towards Jews across Canada.
But we can’t do it alone. We need your HELP!
Our ability to thrive and grow in 2020 and beyond depends on the generosity of committed readers and supporters like you.
Monthly support is a great way to help us sustain our operations. We greatly appreciate any contributions you can make to support Jewish Journalism.
We thank you for your ongoing support.
Happy reading!
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