Belleville attack should be ‘wake up call’ on rising antisemitism, Jewish group says
The head of a major Jewish advocacy group says the recent violent attack at a synagogue in Belleville, Ont., should serve as a “wake-up call” to the “much broader problem” of rising antisemitism and racist conspiracies in Canada. Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, made the comment just days after […]
OTTAWA - The head of a prominent Jewish advocacy organization, Noah Shack, has called for urgent action following a violent attack on a synagogue in Belleville, Ontario. Speaking at a press conference on Parliament Hill, Shack emphasized that the incident should serve as a "wake-up call" to the growing issue of antisemitism and racist conspiracies in Canada.
The attack, which left a police officer critically injured and the shooter dead, occurred just days after Yom Kippur. Shack pointed out that similar attacks could occur anywhere in the country, highlighting the urgent need for action. This comes amidst growing reports of antisemitic incidents, including from Jewish university students who have experienced an increase in hostility both on and off campus.
The Combatting Hate Act, which took effect in June, introduced new Criminal Code offenses for hate-motivated attacks on identifiable groups, including the intentional display of Nazi symbols. Liberal MP Anthony Housefather has proposed the creation of specialized prosecutors for hate crimes, an idea that federal justice and public safety ministers appear open to.
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- Belleville attack should be ‘wake up call’ on rising antisemitism, Jewish group says winnipegfreepress.com
