Three organizations say their communities are on edge as antisemitic acts are on the rise amid Israel-Palestine conflict
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies and B’nai Brith Canada say local police have been contacted about many of the incidents – some of which may have been reported to all three groups. They say their community is on edge amid the increase in antisemitism ranging from uttering of slurs online and in-person to a handful of physical assaults.
B’nai Brith Canada says it has seen a similar spike, but could not provide statistics beyond stating it had already had more physical assaults reported from across Canada in the month of May than the nine recorded by the organization last year. Vancouver police spokesperson Constable Tania Visintin said she is aware of similar incidents being reported to her department this month, but none of the cases completed in May so far have been motivated by antisemitism.Montreal police said in an e-mail Friday afternoon that they have increased car and foot patrols in several neighbourhoods with large Jewish populations to reassure people and prevent crime after threats have been made against this community.