Global Jewish coalition warns anti-Zionism and Islamist extremism are fueling Canada’s antisemitism surge

The J7 task force, a global coalition that represents the world’s seven largest Diaspora Jewish communities, has expressed concerns about the rising levels of antisemitism in Canada since the Hamas Oct 7, 2023, terror attack in southern Israel.

In a joint letter, the group called on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to confront radical Islam and anti-Zionism, which it identified as the primary drivers of antisemitism in Canada today.

“Antisemitism is not only a Jewish issue. It is a test of democratic leadership and a measure of the health of democratic institutions,” the letter stated. “For generations, Canada was viewed throughout the Jewish world as one of the safest countries in which Jews could live openly and proudly.”

“Today, that perception is changing – and not for the better,” the authors warned.

Established in July 2023, just a few months before Oct. 7, the J7 task force represents Jewish communities in the United States, Great Britain, Canada, France, Australia and Argentina with the specific goal of combating global antisemitism.

Since the Hamas massacre of 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping of 251 people from southern Israel, and the war that followed, Jew-hatred has increased dramatically across Canada and much of the world.

In recent months, Jews and Israeli expats in Canada have faced increasingly violent manifestations of hatred, including assaults, shootings and attempted arson attacks.

The J7 letter warned that antisemitism in Canadian society has become a global concern, stating, “The rise of antisemitism in Canada has become a matter of growing concern far beyond Canada’s borders.”

“The sense of insecurity experienced by Jewish Canadians is now attracting international attention.”

Canadian authorities have gradually begun recognizing the growing problem of antisemitism. In March, the Canadian Ministry of Public Safety announced a CAD $10 million ($US 7.15 million) investment to strengthen security for Jewish-Canadian communities, schools, institutions and synagogues following three synagogue shootings in Toronto.

“No one in Canada should ever feel unsafe because of who they are, how they pray, or the community they belong to. Jewish communities have been increasingly targeted for hate crimes and impacted by rising hate-related incidents,” Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree stated at the time.

However, the J7 task force believes that Canada’s current efforts to curb antisemitism are insufficient. The global organization urged the Canadian government to embrace a “whole-of-government effort” that explicitly addresses anti-Zionism and Islamist extremism as main sources for antisemitism in Canadian society.

“The problem is no longer a lack of information. It is a lack of urgency, coordination and enforcement. And of real action,” the J7 letter assessed, adding, “Canada’s response must reflect the nature of the challenge it faces.”

The Canadian government has been increasingly critical of Israel during the war since Oct. 7.

The J7 task force argued that Canadian authorities, like many Western governments, have been reluctant to recognize anti-Zionism as a major driver of contemporary antisemitism, contending that hostility toward Israel's existence is often framed as legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies.

Last Sunday, about 60,000 people took part in Toronto's annual "Walk with Israel" march, a public demonstration of support for Israel and Canada's Jewish community. Canada is home to approximately 400,000 Jews, out of a total population of about 40 million.

Earlier this month, the Canadian prime minister acknowledged that more can be done to protect Canadian Jewish communities.

“The crisis of antisemitism in Canada today is specific, it’s severe and it demands a targeted response,” Carney said. “Canada’s civic compact is failing Jewish Canadians."

Carney did not outline specific additional measures to address the problem in those remarks.